Premier Inn, the UK’s largest budget hotel operator, has announced plans to provide 500 Apprenticeships this year.
The announcement was made at the official opening of Premier Inn’s 650th hotel at Waterloo by Employment Minister, Mark Hoban, MP and Whitbread Chairman, Anthony Habgood.
1,100 jobs created in last year
As the UK’s fastest growing hotel chain Premier Inn has created over 1,100 jobs in the past year and the new 234 bedroom Premier Inn at Waterloo, on the site of the old ‘Lying In Hospital’, has provided jobs for 40 people, around half of which have gone to those between the ages of 16-24 and long term unemployed. Demand for the 40 new jobs was high with over 750 applications.
6,500 Apprenticeship qualifications in past 3 years
In the past three years, Premier Inn and Whitbread’s restaurants have helped nearly 6,500 people achieve a qualification under its Apprenticeship scheme. 415 apprenticeships were successfully completed by Whitbread in 2012.
Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said:
“Whitbread has a long history of helping young people further their careers through apprenticeships. Indeed, 250 years ago, our founder Sam Whitbread started out in business on a seven year brewing apprenticeship.
Recruiting half of new employees from unemployed
“It’s tough in today’s climate for young people to get into the workplace and find a job that offers them a chance to get on. We have a target of recruiting half of all our new employees from the long term unemployed.
“Premier Inn is the UK’s fastest growing hotel company whose growth in London now means that we can offer over 7,000 bedrooms in the capital. We’re very proud to be able to support people getting a job and giving them an opportunity to gain skills and qualifications through apprenticeships so they can build their career.”
Mark Hoban, MP, Employment Minister, said “Premier Inn has a great record of giving opportunities to jobseekers, offering jobs to 1,100 in 2012, many of whom were unemployed young people.
“I’m delighted to hear that Premier Inn plans to build on this, and has pledged today to give opportunities to 500 young people through our apprenticeship scheme.
“Theirs is an example that I hope other companies will follow.”
The Whitbread Apprenticeship scheme
The scheme is focussed on training ‘on the job’ but with further support being provided to help employees improve and develop their knowledge and skills for key academic subjects, notably maths and English.
There are three stages to the Whitbread Apprenticeship scheme: Intermediate, Advanced and Higher. The Intermediate stage has been running successfully for the last three years. The Advanced stage was rolled out for the first time during the latter stages of 2012 and a ‘Higher’ level will be introduced during the course of 2013.
The three different Apprenticeships on offer depend on the team member’s role but they apply to front of House (receptionists), Food and Beverage Service (for Restaurant and Bar team members), and Food production and Cooking (Chefs).
The new Hospitality Services Apprenticeship uses an innovative approach to multi-skilling team members to work across different areas of the hotel. Apprentices follow a structured programme with monthly workshops to support their learning and help keep them on track. Apprentices can select two options to combine food and beverage with reception, housekeeping with reception or kitchen with food and beverage.