The Government has launched its Hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programme in the Two Cities, and following Nickie's visit with the Employment Minister, Guy Opperman MP, she spoke out in the Commons Chamber to champion local jobs.
The Hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programme brings together employers with live vacancies and training providers, helping people gain the skills they need for an exciting career.
As part of the Pilot, UKHospitality has developed a ‘Hospitality Skills Passport’ enabling a universal entry standard for hospitality roles. It’s a great initiative allowing people to complete qualifications and accredited training in areas such as health and safety, and licensing, to give people the skills they need to help them get ahead in an exciting hospitality career.
In the Commons, Nickie said,
"May I first thank the Minister for Employment for joining me this morning at Ben Venuti, a brilliant café and deli in Pimlico, to celebrate hospitality in Cities of London and Westminster? I am delighted that the hospitality SWAP pilot has been launched in my constituency, where we have thousands and thousands of hospitality jobs. One of the businesses involved in the pilot is the Raffles London hotel, just up the road at the Old War Office, which I visited with UK Hospitality recently. What further steps is the Department taking to ensure that the scheme benefits minorities and those struggling the most with the cost of living crisis?"
Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Employment, replied,
"It was a tough ministerial visit to an award-winning coffee shop this morning—somehow, I missed the earlier hotel visit. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are driving forward that hospitality pilot to try to tackle the recruitment issues in that vital sector, which permeate all across the United Kingdom. She will be keen to know that every person who passes gets a hospitality skills passport, which we believe can genuinely make a difference across all age groups and all sections of the community."
