The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed details of a scheme designed to help tens of thousands of young Brits into work, centred around a new 'Hospitality Skills Passport'. The programme targets 100,000 people aged 18 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), with pilots so far described as a "staggering success".
Hospitality scheme targets 100,000 young people
The DWP outlined the programme after a parliamentary question, revealing that major high street names including McDonald's, Burger King and Nando's are involved. The scheme has already been rolled out across Cardiff, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Coventry.
The overall programme, targeting 100,000 workers, includes the following companies: Parkdean Resorts, Whitbread, McDonald's, Sodexo, Haven, Marriott, Burger King, Mitchells and Butler, Merlin Entertainments, De Vere, Wagamama, Compass, Stonegate Group, WSH Limited, Nando's and Fuller's.
Government investment and employer commitments
Speaking on Tuesday, 3 November, in response to a question raised by West Midlands MP Preet Kaur Gill, DWP minister Andrew Western said: "With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn."
Mr Western added: "A central part of the Youth Guarantee is working with employers to create more opportunities for young people. DWP is working with UKHospitality and leading hospitality employers to create more opportunities for young people to enter employment and develop the skills and experience they need to progress in work. Hospitality businesses including Whitbread, McDonald's, Nando's, Marriott, Compass, Burger King and Wagamama have committed to providing over 100,000 jobs for 18 to 24-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training by the end of Parliament."
How the Hospitality Skills Passport works
Mr Western outlined the details of the programme, highlighting a key feature known as the Hospitality Skills Passport. He explained: "These opportunities will be delivered through direct recruitment and a hospitality training programme providing disadvantaged young people with sector-specific experience, a guaranteed interview and a Hospitality Skills Passport, which certifies that participants have the skills needed to succeed in the sector. Hospitality businesses will also offer learning opportunities through DWP's work experience programme, providing two to four weeks of hands-on experience with hospitality employers, alongside workplace support and interview experience."
DWP also supports routes into the sector through hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which provide pre-employment training designed to equip jobseekers with the skills needed for hospitality roles, alongside work experience and a guaranteed job interview. In collaboration with UKHospitality, the Destination Hospitality SWAP pilot has been extended to 22 SWAPs in 16 areas across England and Scotland.
When the hospitality scheme was first unveiled on 16 October, Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: "Hospitality is the number one employer of young people in the economy, providing valuable and rewarding routes into work. This announcement demonstrates the Government's recognition of hospitality as a critical sector to solve the NEETs crisis and we're pleased to work together on this partnership to target 100,000 job opportunities for NEET young people, as well as on creating the right conditions for growth. Expanding access to support for the Hospitality Skills Passport, which has already seen enormous success, is incredibly positive and will rightly form a significant pillar of our work together to achieve this goal."
Passport success and sector support
The passport is designed to offer a universal entry standard for roles across the hospitality sector, covering everything from restaurants and pubs to hotels. UKHospitality reports that 80 per cent of people completing the course are now employed in the hospitality industry. The body said it had so far been a "staggering success".
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: "Hospitality's variety is undoubtedly one of its strengths but when it comes to entering the sector to work, it can be one of its greatest challenges. There are multiple routes into hospitality and with more than 200 different qualifications on offer, getting started can be confusing and deter potential entrants. That's why a universal entry standard has never been more important. The new Hospitality Skills Passport initiative that we've developed, which is backed by the sector and being piloted by Government, does just that and can revolutionise the way we recruit, induct and develop our people. The evolution of this passport, by offering one place where people can store and track their qualifications, we can improve the lives of employers and employees at the same time. It will streamline onboarding, identify training needs and help develop skills quicker than ever before."
Ms Nicholls added: "I'm delighted we've been able to share more details about how the passport would work and the staggering success we've seen it had helping people back into work, as part of the pilot schemes to test the concept." Further information on the passports is available on the UKHospitality website.
