Perceptions Group and Hospitality Guild aim to create 15,000 pub work placements

The Perceptions Group, a collective of industry executives dedicated to raising the profile of the pub industry, has joined forces with the Hospitality Guild in a bid to create 15,000 work placements for young people in 2013/14.

The initiative aims to equip young people with foundation level qualifications and prepare them for entry into employment through an apprenticeship.

The Perceptions Group said it was calling on employers to register their support for the programme. The programme enables training providers to run pre-employment academies and workshops that will offer potential candidates the opportunity to hone their employability skills prior to their application for a two-week work placement.

Over the two-week placement candidates will be immersed in a mixture of on-line and practical training that will cover a range of modules including an introduction to the industry; team working; customer service; sales training; Food Service and Health & Safety Level 2; as well as communication and influencing; making the right first impression and dealing with difficult situations.

The pre-employment programme is funded by the Hospitality Guild, the umbrella organisation for skills and professional development in hospitality.

“The Guild recognises the importance pubs and bars play in both entry level career opportunities as well as continuing professional development. This initiative aims to enable operators, big and small, to engage with thousands of unemployed young people who will have been through a pre-employment programme and will be work ready,” said Suzanne Jackson, executive director of the Guild.

“The industry offers a huge amount of career opportunities” said Keith Knowles, chief executive of Beds and Bars who has been spearheading the Perceptions Group. “It is often by accident that young people realise there is a fantastic career to be had in this dynamic, innovative industry. With a million young people unemployed we are well placed to be part of the solution in offering not only jobs, but also long term careers.”Â

Anthony Pender, director of Yummy Pubs who has been involved in a ground-breaking programme getting homeless and disadvantaged young people back into work said: “Giving young people the confidence, skills and basic qualifications to enter the industry will see them well placed to pursue a career. Already we have seen three young local candidates go on to apprenticeship programmes within a matter of months.”

It is projected that the industry will need to recruit more than 100,000 people over the next five years. “It is crucial that we attract people with the passion to learn and progress and to add to the dynamism of the pub and bar sector,” said Knowles.

E-mail info@hospitalityguild.co.uk for more information.

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By Neil Gerrard

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