UKHospitality urges government to protect apprenticeship standards

UKHospitality has called on the government to guarantee existing hospitality apprenticeship standards amid an ongoing review by the Department for Work and Pensions.

In a letter to Baroness Smith of Malvern, minister for skills, the trade body said apprenticeships play a central role in supporting young people into work and enabling progression within the hospitality sector.

It warned that any reduction in the number of approved apprenticeship standards would conflict with government objectives to reduce economic inactivity and expand employment opportunities, particularly for those without higher academic qualifications.

The organisation also raised concerns that a growing emphasis on industrial strategy sectors, at the expense of hospitality and what the chancellor has described as the “everyday economy”, risked creating a two-tier economy and society.

Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, said hospitality was one of the UK’s largest users of apprenticeships and already operated with a relatively small number of standards.

“Hospitality already operates with a relatively small number of standards, and these are comparatively low cost when set against those in many other sectors. Any further reduction would therefore have a disproportionate impact on our ability to recruit, train and progress people effectively.”

“It is creating the conditions for a two-tier economy that could lead to a two-tier society, where opportunities are increasingly denied to many because of their educational attainment or social background.

UKHospitality has urged the government to guarantee existing hospitality apprenticeship standards for at least the next 24 months while the sector works with ministers and other stakeholders to shape future skills policy.