‘Springboard UK aims to invest in the future’

‘Springboard UK aims to invest in the future’

SPRINGBOARD UKwas created in London in 1990 as a specialist careers advisory service for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries.

Starting with two secondees from industry, the focus was on innovative activities targeting the unemployed and schools.

A range of tools were developed including a computerised storyboard, now the CD-ROM-based Springteractive, as well as the Springboard Discovery Trail, an educational quiz-based tour opening eyes on the industry’s scope and career opportunities available.

Springboard continued in a modest way during the recession and then needed to respond to an industry crying out for staff in 1996/97. Huge growth was predicted, skill shortages were at an all-time high and labour turnover was rising. This was set against a backdrop of a poor image problem.

Anne Walker, then director of Hospitality Training Foundation and a new recruit to the Springboard board, recognised the challenges faced as well as the need for a more high profile, national entity with a more dynamic and inclusive business plan.

Walker joined the organisation in November 1997 and took it from a modest London-based operation with two staff, reaching some 2,000 people per year, to a 17-centre organisation employing 42 staff nationwide – Aviemore is the furthest north and Tenby is the furthest west.

Every year Springboard hosts the nationwide Springboard UK National Careers Festival, from October 15-22, which aims to raise the profile and image of the travel industry and encourage more people to see a job in tourism as a career of choice.

The week-long event sees the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sectors open their doors to show working life to the potential recruits.

With each day offering a specific theme, the final day is called National Groundhog Day, whereby those working in the industry are invited to bring children, parents, teachers, and friends to shadow them for a day to offer a snapshot of their jobs.

Springboard UKmanaging director Anne Walker said: “Life will not be easy in the short term for travel and related industries but that does not mean we should cast aside all our long-term planning and objectives.

“The industry’s resilience is recognised. While recruitment may be on hold at the moment, at Springboard UK we’re talking about investment in the future.

“We cannot risk not tackling our long-term goals because of short-term expediencies.

“We need to be in good shape to kick-start the recruitment drive as and when the climate is right. That means constantly promoting the industry to potential recruits as an exciting career – both now and in the future.”

Walker: promoting the industry as an exciting career option