Tourism Council to consult industry on setting up Training Agency
Social media drive during English Tourism Week launched to champion careers in the sector.
At a meeting between Government and leading tourism employers, Tourism Minister Helen Grant and Skills Minister Nick Boles committed to helping the industry meet apprenticeship standards.
At the meeting, the Tourism Industry Council invited the sector to bring forward views on piloting an Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) for Tourism to help bring through the next wave of talent.
A bespoke tourism ATA would look at ways tourism sector apprentices could experience training at a number of different businesses in various parts of the sector, at the same time as supporting small and medium-sized businesses to take on apprentices.
As well as considering issues relating to apprenticeships in the sector, the Tourism Council is also spearheading a week-long social media push to help showcase career opportunities.
The social media drive, launched yesterday to coincide with English Tourism Week, is using the hashtags #TourismCareers and #MyTourismJob.
Part of the campaign includes running a competition via @dcms where people will have the chance to shadow senior figures from Tourism Council members. This includes Hilton, Easyjet, Expedia and Eurostar.
Tourism Minister Helen Grant said:
The government is completely committed to supporting and promoting the tourism sector. The industry plays a key role in our long-term economic plan and we want to help showcase the great opportunities that exist in the industry.
The Tourism Council is a fantastic forum for the industry and government to work together and come up with solutions that can help the sector continue to grow and thrive. The idea of a Tourism Apprenticeship Training Agency is one that I think we should explore and the Council will be interested in hearing the industry’s views on this.
Nick Boles, Minister for Skills, said:
Over 2.1 million apprenticeships have been created since 2010, but we want to ensure that all industries can benefit from apprentices breathing new life into their businesses.
That is why we welcome initiatives by the UK’s tourism employers to take on more apprentices, and help expand Britain’s already booming tourism industry even further.’’
Simon Vincent, Executive Vice President and President Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Hilton Worldwide and Co-Industry Chair of the Tourism Council said:
Apprentices are at the heart of what we do at Hilton Worldwide and we are passionate about giving people the opportunity to realise their potential. I hope that the consultation with the industry on careers in tourism and hospitality will enable more hospitality businesses to benefit from the great contribution apprentices make.
This is an exciting part of the Tourism Council’s recommendations to support a thriving tourism and hospitality sector by boosting skills and jobs, and one of many achievements as a result of the close partnership between government and industry.
Notes to Editors:
The Tourism Council met for the first time in July 2014 where a group of representatives from Government and industry met to capitalise on the potential for jobs, skills and growth within the sector in the UK.
The Tourism Industry Council is jointly chaired by Tourism Minister Helen Grant, Skills Minister Nick Boles and Simon Vincent, President for EMEA at Hilton Worldwide.
The Tourism Council consists of representatives from:
DCMS, BIS, VisitBritain, VisitEngland, Hilton, The Tourism Alliance, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, InterContinental Hotels Group, Dudley Zoo, Expedia, Parkdean Holidays, easyJet, English Lakes Hotels, Google, First Group, Eurostar, JAC Travel, Continuum, Shepherd Neame, West Dorset Leisure Holidays Ltd and TUI Travel PLC.