Marriott International has launched the Marriott Culinary Apprenticeship Academy (MCAA), its first coordinated effort in the United Kingdom to train and offer young people a viable career in the culinary and hospitality industry.
The MCAA is one of a number of steps taken by Marriott International in Europe to ensure that young people have the opportunity for a prosperous career. In addition to the MCAA, Marriott has launched a pilot Engineer apprenticeship programme in London, which recruited three young people to learn the ropes, and is currently working to take the success of its Government Youth Contracts in Scotland nationwide.
Bridgett Price, chief human resources officer for Marriott International in Europe commented:
“With the youth unemployment figure in the UK at nearly 1 million, we recognise the need to open up opportunities to people and ensure they have the training and support they need to help them excel in their careers. With exciting development and growth opportunities within our hotels in Europe comes the need for skilled people to take the hospitality industry forward. The big drive for us is making young people aware of the opportunities we can offer and showing them that this is an exciting industry with real career progression.”
15 apprentices, 18 months training = commis chef position
Through the MCAA, Marriott will train 15 young apprentices to NVQ level 2 on the eighteen month programme, aiming to increase the number to thirty the following year. The programme has been created in tandem with the training provider Babcock to ensure that the apprentices receive the most up-to-date and relevant training to help them develop the skills they will need to progress in their careers. All of the apprentices that successfully complete the programme will be awarded a guaranteed position as a commis chef in a Marriott hotel in the UK.
Working with The Prince’s Trust, SOS Children’s Villages
As well as apprenticeship opportunities, Marriott International works with The Prince’s Trust and SOS Children’s Villages to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their full potential by providing life skills and vocational opportunities. Through “World of Opportunity,” Marriott International’s 280 hotels across Europe fundraise, volunteer, and facilitate in-kind donations to sponsor and support educational and employability programmes run by the two charitable partners to help tackle youth unemployment.