Traineeship boost for Hospitality

A leading local College has launched a new Hospitality Traineeship Programme that will support 16-24-year-olds to get into work while offering vital capacity and financial incentives for employers in one of Cornwall’s hardest hit sectors.

The new 12-week programme will start at Truro and Penwith College in October 2020 and January 2021, with an eight-week intensive programme also planned for summer 2021.

Trainees will attend College throughout the programme to develop their skills while completing nearly 100-hours of quality work experience with Cornwall’s top hospitality employers, where they will get a taste of a range of hospitality areas including kitchen, front of house, housekeeping, marketing and accountancy.

Time at College will include masterclasses and demonstrations from leading hospitality professionals and opportunities to meet suppliers for a well-rounded understanding of the industry.

Employability skills will also be covered, and the programmes will culminate with the Trainees organising a high tea service and an interview day with employers who will be actively recruiting Apprentices or offering other employment opportunities.

The October and January programmes have been introduced for those who are out of work and not in full-time education. The eight-week intensive summer programme is open to all 16-24-year-olds but has been added to give those in full-time education an opportunity to develop their skills before progressing to an Apprenticeship, further training or employment in hospitality.

Some of the employers offering the 100-hours of work experience are expected to be recruiting at the interview day, giving Trainees experience of working in the businesses before their interview.

The new programme is the first major development after the College announced it would be ‘rapidly expanding’ its Traineeship offer in response to the Chancellor’s July economic statement that cited Traineeships and Apprenticeships as being key to the recovery of the UK economy post Covid.

Traineeships are not limited to the hospitality industry, the College is seeking to work with employers from all sectors to explore opportunities and recently launched a six-week Traineeship with Ver Facil, offering students the exciting opportunity to work in the Internet of Things industry.

Andy Stittle, director of partnerships at Truro and Penwith College commented: “The College’s employer partnerships mean it is ideally placed to meet the needs of the community it serves and we are working closely with employers in the design and delivery of courses to ensure the government’s support and interventions have the intended impact in Cornwall.

“This expansion, of the College’s Traineeship offer, will apply across a wide range of sectors and will provide options for young people who are out of work and find their opportunities limited due to the impacts of Covid-19”.

Further to the Chancellor’s July economic statement, employer incentives come in the form of a £1,000 bonus per Trainee, with a £2,000 bonus for recruiting Apprentices before January 21, all of which is in addition to the £695 million Government scheme introduced in 2018 that ensures SMEs only pay 5% of their Apprenticeship training costs.

The Office for National Statistics recently reported that 16-24-year olds have been one of the hardest hit groups for unemployment, as April – June saw the UK’s biggest quarterly decrease in employment since 2009*.

Suzanne Croft, Hospitality Traineeship Developer at Truro and Penwith College said: “The new Hospitality Traineeship Programme will provide Trainees with up-to-date, industry relevant knowledge, skills and confidence, giving them the best possible chance of successfully applying for an Apprenticeship, full-time college course or paid work.

“Each Traineeship group will complete ahead of Apprenticeship intake dates at the College, to increase their chances of further employment.”

The new Hospitality Traineeship Programme has received support from Hospitality Table Cornwall, the College’s part-funded ESF project.

To find out more about Traineeships and to apply visit www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/what-to-study/traineeships, contact the College’s team on 01872 242711 or email Suzanne Croft at suzannec@truro-penwith.ac.uk.

Employers who would like to know more should also call 01872 242711, email business@truro-penwith.ac.uk or visit: https://www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/working-with-business/training-solutions/traineeships