National Skills Academy Bid Approved
The Government announced on 31st October that the People 1st coordinated bid to develop a National Hospitality Skills Academy has been approved to go forward to the Business Planning stage. The announcement was made by Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills at a breakfast launch in London.
The Academy will set the benchmark to which all who work, or want to work, in the hospitality industry should aspire. It will offer high quality training and will help address the high instance of skills gaps across the industry. In addition, the Academy will boost the profile and image of the industry, both at home and abroad. Looking forward to 2012, the Academy will provide the focus and priority needed for the industry to raise skills standards significantly and ensure the industry attracts, retains and develops a high quality workforce.
Brian Wisdom, Chief Executive of People 1st offered his thanks to The Edge Foundation, Paramount Hotels, Terry Laybourne, Interchange and Consort Hotels, Whitbread and Compass Group. They have demonstrated that by working together they can present a compelling proposition, which clearly illustrates how the hospitality industry can collaborate for its own greater good.
Welcoming the news, Tourism Minister Shaun Woodward said “This is excellent news for the hospitality industry and its 1.6 million workers, who will benefit hugely from a National Hospitality Skills Academy.
“The Academy is much needed and will raise the bar for professional standards in hospitality, helping people to acquire new skills and improve existing ones. And it will help to inspire the managers and leaders of the future, who have such a crucial role to play in nurturing and developing talent within the industry.
“This work has never been more important, as we look to secure a lasting legacy for tourism from The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. “I congratulate all of those who worked so hard to make this Academy bid a success, particularly People 1st and the employers involved." Further briefings will follow during the next two weeks as the Academy's founding members take forward this exciting opportunity for the hospitality industry.
