The deadline for nominations from members of the trade to sit on the first travel apprenticeship board closes on Tuesday.
The board, being established by skills management specialist People 1st, will include six employer members with voting rights whose term will last for two years.
Additional members with no voting rights, include People 1st, Abta, the Guild of Travel Management Companies and nominated partners, including one college, one private training provider and one independent assessment organisation, whose term lasts for one year.
The board will be recognised by government to ensure the industry’s apprenticeships stay “fit for purpose”.
The creation of the board comes amid estimated that the travel sector will need 53,000 skilled staff by 2024 to operate effectively and remain competitive.
Membership is open to employers or all sizes and they must have a “sound knowledge” of apprenticeships and their overall opportunity to improve productivity across the economy.
Individuals must be nominated by their employer and selection will be based on a complimentary mix of specialisms and expertise in relation to apprenticeships, such as skills development, global skills models, human resource management, talent management, careers, finance, policy, marketing and communications.
The business and their nominated employer must demonstrate a passion to drive the industry’s commitment to quality apprenticeships and a genuine desire to raise the overall quality of professional standards in the travel industry, address skills gaps and positively impact on productivity, according to People 1st.
The business must employ, or intend to employ, at least one apprentice.
A nominations committee will review applications on January 31 with membership of the board to be confirmed on February 7.