People 1st has welcomed the re-appointment of Nick Boles as Skills Minister, and urged him to continue his pragmatic approach towards the apprenticeship reform that hospitality employers have welcomed and embraced.
Boles was re-selected as Skills Minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 11 May, as David Cameron unveiled his new-look Cabinet.
Bold ambitions
The Conservative Party has bold ambitions for apprentices across all industries, with targets to create three million new apprenticeships by the end of this Parliament. Simon Tarr, managing director of People 1st, said:
“The hospitality industry can play a major role in helping realise the Government’s ambitions for apprenticeships.
“Over 17,000 apprentices completed hospitality apprenticeships last year alone. With hospitality currently projected to recruit 993,000 employees by 2022, including 229,000 in skilled and management roles, apprentices will continue to play a critical role in developing skilled staff in the years to come.”
Developing robust apprenticeships
The Government’s apprenticeship reforms aim to place employers in the driving seat to develop robust apprenticeships that reflect the skills needs of their industry and to ensure their quality. With Nick Boles’ re-appointment, hospitality employers are calling for him to continue what the previous government started to firmly place employers at the heart of the apprenticeship system.
Hospitality Trailblazer
Hospitality employers, with the support of People 1st, have come together as a part of a Government Trailblazer to develop new apprenticeship standards for the hospitality industry.
Sandra Kelly, Head of Education, Whitbread and member of the Hospitality Trailblazer, commented: “This is an exciting and critical crossroads for the apprenticeship reform and we look forward to working with the new minister.”
Simon Tarr stressed, “It’s important that the government continues listening to and addressing employers’ critical issues relating to apprenticeships if we are to see numbers increase and more businesses offering them.”
Employers are strongly encouraged to share their views on the new apprenticeship system via the People 1st consultation which is open until the 29th May, the outcome of which will be reported to Government in early June.
Further information on the Hospitality Trailblazer and the industry’s new apprenticeship standards can be found here