Hospitality Trailblazer scheme to establish new apprentice standards

27-Oct-2014 - Last updated on 27-Oct-2014 at 08:47 GMT

The development will include three standards for a commis chef, chef de partie and hospitality team member

A Government scheme to develop standards in apprenticeships, managed by People 1st, has been extended.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced today that the hospitality trailblazer will now progress to “establish a clear career pathway for apprentices entering and progressing within the hospitality industry”.

The new development will include three standards for a commis chef, chef de partie and hospitality team member.

'Key role'

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “I congratulate the hospitality trailblazer, supported by People 1st for the key role it is playing in developing new top-quality apprenticeships. Through the trailblazers initiative companies like Spirit Pub Company, Compass Group, McDonald’s UK, Lancaster London, Whitbread, Mitchells and Butlers, KFC UKI, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, in collaboration with their industry partners, will give people the skills they need to thrive and our businesses need to compete.

“The hospitality trailblazer will continue to work together to develop the new standards in phase 3 and chair of the hospitality trailblazer Kathryn Porter, divisional resourcing director, Hilton Worldwide encourages employers to get involved in the process “the trailblazer work is important to all employers as we are defining a standard for job roles and agreeing what great performance looks like. It’s essential that the standards and the apprenticeship assessment meet the needs of all types and sizes of employers”.

'Invaluable'

Annette Allmark, director of strategic policy at People 1st, who has been working with the hospitality trailblazer since day one, said that it was excellent news for employers: “The standards are employer driven and provide the industry with a fantastic opportunity to engage, train and develop highly skilled apprentices. With industry turnover of staff currently standing at 20% and costing the industry £274 million it is vital that we address this issue, so the trailblazer’s work is invaluable to the industry.”

The approved standards and those still under development are now available on the People 1st website.