National Skills Academy For Hospitality Endorses Best Quality Hospitality Training Programmes

The National Skills Academy for Hospitality is endorsing a series of training programmes which will enable young people to choose the highest-quality quality programmes being offered by one of the UK's most important industries. The programmes will give people the best opportunity to acquire the necessary skills for a long-term career in the industry.

In spite of the recession, hospitality employers will recruit an estimated 1 million people in the next 12 months to fill vacancies created by seasonal demand, people retiring and those leaving the industry. The programmes will particularly help fill skills shortages in management and leadership, customer service and chefs.

In identifying, endorsing and promoting the best training programmes in the industry, the Academy aims to create a brand that learners, parents and employers can trust as the benchmark for excellence in hospitality training.

The Academy's first suite of approved training courses covers advanced apprenticeships, diplomas in professional cookery, the Compass junior chefs academy and chef master classes. The National Skills Academy status for an employer, educational establishment or training provider identifies the combination of content and delivery excellence.

Companies and educational establishments whose training programmes receive the Academy's seal of approval will benefit from high profile recognition, marketing and funding support.

Bob Cotton, chairman of the National Skills Academy for Hospitality, said: that hospitality was a sector that had enjoyed phenomenal growth and was one of the few industries still continuing to grow and recruit in the recession. Career prospects in the industry were second-to-none but the need for skilled staff was ‘very strong'.

“Between 750,000 and 1m people are set to be recruited in the sector in the coming 12 months,” he said.

“The Academy is creating national benchmarks in hospitality training so that these recruits and existing team members can take advantage of the best programmes in the industry.”

David McHattie, the Academy's chief executive, said that further qualifications and courses whether within companies, colleges or training providers would be assessed and approved.

“They will reap the reward of being recognised as excellent,” he said.

“By developing our application and approval system for programmes, and with our access to funding opportunities, we aim to define the benchmark for excellence in hospitality training. Shining a light on the excellence found and increasing the availability of these programmes will not only raise the standards of training throughout the hospitality industry but enhance our reputation with the talent of the future.”