Funding worth almost £7 million has been secured to run a two-year scheme to raise standards and develop the skills of workers in the hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism industries.
Sector skills council People 1st has won the £6.8 million funding for the programme from the Employer Investment Fund.
People 1st chief executive Brian Wisdom said: “Together hospitality, tourism and passenger transport represent one in ten of the whole of the UK’s workforce.
“With 20% of employers with vacancies and 32,000 managers required every year, 2012 is the perfect time to demonstrate how our sector can help grow the UK’s economy and find direction for the unemployed like no other sector.
“Many employers have already shown their commitment by supporting the bid. I would urge others to join them in a two-year push to transform the industry’s image and reputation.”
People 1st aims to help train 10,000 unemployed people each year, increase the number of women entering the public transport sector, encourage companies to train staff to agreed standards, increase completion rates for hospitality apprenticeships from 45% to 70% by 2015 and increase the capacity of colleges and training providers to deliver the WorldHost customer service training programme.
The organisation added: “People 1st will continue to create business solutions for employers, and work with partners to respond to changes in regulatory standards and qualifications that comply.
“Ongoing employer and stakeholder engagement will remain critical in identifying skills gaps and developing solutions and products for sustainable growth.”