Supporting businesses to build, develop and retain skilled workforces

We’re a trusted partner to employers, industry bodies, skills organisations, donor funders, NGOs, investment banks and governments, with over 50 years’ experience in skills development and technical vocational education and training.

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What we can help you with

Workforce insights

Our deep insights into the current and future skills needs are fostered out of the strong relationships we hold with industry to give us real-time intelligence into the workforce disruptions and challenges, innovative approaches and practical solutions industry needs.

Enabling collaboration

We bring together industry, associations, national stakeholders and governments with a passion for skills development to work collaboratively to identify the skills priorities for the sector and create industry-endorsed strategies that develop skilled and valued workforces. The connections we forge between employers and education help align skills to businesses' needs, ensuring an excellent source of future talent.

Skills standards development

We are at the forefront of developing apprenticeship, professional and occupational standards,working with employers to define the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for today’s workforce. Uniquely, we also support industry in maintaining the ongoing quality of standardsand apprenticeships through robust quality assurance models.

Expert consultancy

Our team of expert international consultants support countries with a true thirst for professional development, who are passionate about helping young people, challenging social and gender exclusion, addressing the barriers to work and supporting continuous professional development of the existing workforce. We specialise in developing Technical & Vocational Education Training(TVET) strategies, helping to set out the strategic direction of skills development at an industry, local, regional or national level.

Practical, responsive solutions

As the industry expert in skills, we offer a wide range of support and sustainable, practical solutions that are developed in collaboration with employers to help businesses maximise the potential of their workforce. Our products and services, such as our WorldHost programme,career pathway tool and suite of training and assessment services are trusted by organisations globally to deliver results through an innovative, human and transformative approach.

Latest news

New occupational standards for travel prepare workforce for changed environment beyond Covid-19

As the travel industry adapts its operations as it enters recovery mode, employers have led a full review of occupational standards to reflect current and emerging practices, helping to secure a resilient post pandemic workforce.

17/09/2021

‘Our Hospitality and Tourism Commitment’ launches to help secure future talent and show that industry is changing for the better

A new employer commitment has been launched in Northern Ireland today by leading hospitality and tourism operators in an endeavour to change the wider perception of the sector and commit industry to work together and become an ‘employer of choice’, providing good quality training, work-life balance and support to their people.

13/09/2021

Belfast City Airport assured of airfield operator compliance through the National Certificate in Airside Operations

When a group of leading aviation employers came together to collaborate on skills solutions, Belfast City Airport was excited to pioneer a new industry-led certification supported by the UK CAA and Airport Operators Association (AOA) that would assure competence and compliance of airfield operations staff.

11/08/2021

The British Council and People 1st International launch public voting for the ‘Creative Spark’ Big Idea Challenge 2021

People 1st International have joined forces with the British Council in the largest digital pitch competition, the Creative Spark Big Idea Challenge, that provides thousands of students in Central Asia, South Caucasus and Ukraine with the opportunity to develop and present their own business ideas and enterprise skills.

07/07/2021

A change for the better? L&D professionals reflect on the last 18 months

In our latest peice for Training Journal, our expert trainer and curriculum writer, Mark Smith shares a recap of post-Covid learning and insights from training and development professionals we've been working with, as well as feedback from our network on some of the key issues.

Mark Smith

07/09/2021

How a creative partnership is improving entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan’s creative, cultural and tourism sector

Over the last three years, an innovative partnership between tourism industry TVET experts from the UK and a local tourism university in Uzbekistan has transformed the outlook for enterprise skills in Uzbekistan’s creative, cultural and tourism sector.

Kate Tetley

18/08/2021

Why new skills strategies are a top priority for a sustainable workforce

With the Covid-19 recovery revealing a lack of relevant skills in an environment of even more complex business needs and emerging challenges, there is a need to prioritise skills for the future. In this piece for FE News we explore the importance of professionalising the hospitality industry to strengthen attraction into the industry and drive retention of talent at every level.

Sandra Kelly

02/08/2021

How West Suffolk College has continued nurturing future talent for hospitality through the pandemic

Our research shows that despite the ongoing disruption across the hospitality industry due to Covid-19, 86% of hospitality students remain committed to a career in the industry. To understand the types of activities colleges have been undertaking to retain student engagement and stimulate their passion for the industry, we spoke to Claire Waterson, Operations Manager at the Culinary Arts Academy at West Suffolk College to discover their approach over the last 12 months.

Andy Doyle

12/07/2021