Premier Inn, the UK’s leading hotel chain, will create 8,000 new jobs over the next five years due to its rapid expansion plans as it opens a new hotel every 10 days.
The announcement was made at the official opening of Premier Inn’s latest hotel, London City (Monument), by Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants Managing Director, Patrick Dempsey and the Minister for Employment Esther McVey MP.
50% of jobs for long term unemployed
From the 8,000 jobs being created, which equates to over four jobs a day, Premier Inn has targeted 50% of them to long term unemployed people aged 16-24. Premier Inn has also pledged an additional 2,000 Apprenticeships and 4,500 work placements for young people in the UK by 2018.
20,000 rooms within M25 by 2018
Within the M25 Premier Inn is targeting to have 20,000 rooms by 2018 and will be creating around 2,500 new jobs over the next five years.
Premier Inn has already created 1,100 jobs in the past year and the new 184 bedroom Premier Inn at Monument has provided 20 new jobs, all of which have gone to the long term unemployed.
6,500 apprentice qualifications in last 3 years
In the past three years, Premier Inn and Whitbread’s restaurants have helped team members achieve over 6,500 qualifications through its Apprenticeships. A total of 415 apprenticeships were successfully completed in Whitbread in 2012, a number which is set to increase considerably under the new programme.
Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said “We’re committed to doing what we can to offer opportunities to unemployed people to get their first job or to get back into work. We have a target of recruiting half of our new team members from the long-term unemployed, and we offer a robust and structured qualification pathway.”
“We especially want young people to know that hospitality is a career path that is open to them and its one they could excel in. The ‘Big Hospitality Conversation’ is a key pillar of activity for the British Hospitality Association and as an industry it has already pledged over 32,000 jobs, apprenticeships and work placements and that number could double by 2014.
“Our employees can learn on and off the job with plans to introduce qualifications to Level 7.
Believe in Young People
“To help the hospitality industry identify young people who may want to work in our sector I am delighted that we are now working in partnership with ‘Believe in Young People’, a Charity working closely with schools to develop and support young people with their transition into the workplace including the hospitality industry.”
Minister for Employment comments
Esther McVey, Minister for Employment said, “I was delighted to hear that Premier Inn will be creating 8,000 new jobs over the next five years. “This Government has been clear about its commitment to promote private sector job creation and this is a stellar example. “Their commitment to offer half of these new jobs to long term unemployed young people is particularly welcome, and is an example that I hope other businesses will follow.”