Having had quite a number of discussions on the subject of – ‘what is an apprentice and is the term relevant in 2020’ – recently we decided to ask the audience, H&C News’ 6,000 twitter followers. The results were illuminating.
The ongoing people and skills shortages across the ukhospitality industry is moving ever closer to breaking point for many rather than a few. There is simply far more vacancies than people available and the imbalance is and will continue to increase in our view.
The imminent acceleration in people and skills shortages across the UK hospitality industry will be due to the changes in the Government’s immigration policy post Brexit.
These changes will see hospitality employers unable to employ migrant workers unless they can offer a salary of £30,000. This immediately excludes all entry level trainees, as well as many others.
Changes to the salary level has seen much reported over recent days on potential changes, and the reference from most is to move to a system similar to the Australian ‘Points Based System of immigration. But what is the ‘Australian Points Based System’ of immigration exactly, and how could it help in the UK? Below is an excellent appraisal of the realities of the system and its potential as a solution to the UK immigration conundrum from the BBC Newsnight team.
The solution for the industry is challenging to say the least and UK immigration policy is key. It is however always subject to Government changes and as such can only ever be a part of the solution.
From all the possible pools of people available the only one large enough and capable of providing a long term solution is young people entering the workplace for the first time. Young people who are not looking to go to university and who are looking to enter the workplace.
Apprenticeships offer young people a myriad of choices and opportunities and among them are the many offered by the hospitality industry.
So, undoubtedly more hospitality employers need to understand the opportunity, albeit an unenforced Hobson’s choice. Not only do more hospitality employers need to understand the opportunity they need to grasp it.
Through a series of articles throughout 2020, H&C News will be examining the role of the apprentice in the hospitality industry.
We will start by addressing the results from our twitter poll, with quotes and opinions from some of our twitter followers who took part.
We are also delighted to announce that Umbrella Training, the leading nationwide training and apprenticeship provider for the hospitality sector, will be working with us through 2020 as our partners in addressing this issue with our 193,264 (January 2020 Unique Readers) and growing monthly readership.
In the year ahead we will address the role of the apprentice and how hospitality and catering businesses can fully grasp the growing apprentice opportunity.
We will also in partnership with Umbrella Training host the Hospitality Apprentice 2020 Roundtable at Coworth Park in April. This event will see thought leaders from across the UK hospitality and catering industry gather to discuss developing long term solutions to our great industry’s people and skills shortage.
Umbrella Training, CEO, Adele C Oxberry FIHUmbrella Training CEO Adele C Oxberry FIH said of the partnership and work ahead in 2020 to address people and skills shortages: “This is a great opportunity to really showcase apprenticeships, challenge perceptions, and hopefully encourage further uptake within the hospitality community.
“We believe that apprenticeships should be a key ingredient for businesses of all sizes in the hospitality and catering world.
“Apprenticeships can really validate that there is longstanding career progression and longevity in this fantastic sector.
“When applied correctly, apprenticeships help retain individuals within the business. We are not talking a complicated system either. Strategies can be simple yet effective and can cover all size businesses.
“Managing an apprenticeship strategy and developing meaningful apprenticeships takes time and effort. The return on the investment is only there if apprenticeships are closely aligned to individual, departmental and organisational goals. By taking time to develop inspirational apprenticeship programmes with your apprenticeship consultants, you are ensuring that your business has a great future and can achieve sustainable growth through the retention and development of a key resource – people.”
Denis Sheehan, Publisher, H&C NewsDenis Sheehan, Publisher, H&C News looking forward to the Hospitality Apprentice 2020 program calendar told us: “For as long as we have been publishing H&C News, reporting on people and skills shortages has been a low point for us. The day to day reality for hospitality businesses in trying to operate with people and skills shortages is of course far worse. So, H&C News is truly delighted to embark on working with Umbrella Training on Hospitality Apprentice 2020.
“Hospitality Apprentice 2020 will address the opportunity for businesses across hospitality to strategically and tactically embrace apprenticeships. This will be done through ongoing news items featuring market leaders like Hilton Hotels.” – Hilton is growing its apprenticeship scheme by almost 30 per cent in 2020, with 274 apprentices currently, a further 76 apprentice roles will be available over the next 12 months. “As well as interviews with others.”
“I am particularly looking forward to discussing the issue with delegate attendees of Hospitality Apprentice 2020 Roundtable at Coworth Park in April.”