Government-backed hospitality jobs scheme launches in Wales

A government-backed scheme to train jobseekers to work in hospitality has launched in Cardiff this week.

The pilot, run jointly by UKHospitality and training provider Cambrian Training, is designed to encourage people to start a new career in the industry.

It has been backed by the Department for Work & Pensions and will see candidates offered tailored training at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Jobseekers will be given a Hospitality Skills Passport – a digital pass to demonstrate aptitude to employers.

Previous events saw benefit claimants complete qualifications and accredited training in areas such as health and safety, food safety, licensing, conflict resolution and confidence and assertiveness.

Greene King, Brewhouse & Kitchen and Compass Cymru are all supporting the Cardiff scheme, with job interviews guaranteed for successful participants.

Although the initiative is currently in a pilot stage, successful events have taken place in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Coventry.

Sandra Kelly, skills director at UKHospitality, said: “Our ambition with this scheme is to have it operating all across Britain and this is a crucial step in developing the scheme to achieve that goal.

“The pilot schemes in other cities in England have all been a great success so far, where they have provided jobseekers with fantastic job opportunities, and I’m confident we’ll see the same in Cardiff.”

The scheme is designed to tackle ongoing staff shortages in the hospitality industry. The sector had 112,00 job vacancies at the end of 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Jane Byrd, managing director of Compass Cymru, part of the Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “We are part of a barrierless industry where often people need no or very few qualifications to join. This puts us in a unique position to help offer opportunities for people to develop and thrive.”

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