Hospitality sector gears up to promote new diploma

Hospitality employers and training providers were last night urged to get involved in the 14-19 diploma for hospitality, ahead of its launch in 12 months time.

The diploma is designed to have an industry focus with a heavy reliance on work-related learning and an emphasis on work experience.

At a networking event to promote the diploma at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, employers were urged to provide work experience and support delivery of the diploma by offering staff development, careers help, classroom help, workplace help and case studies.

Mike Stapleton, corporate affairs director of the Compass Group UK and Ireland, said “The diploma will help us showcase our fabulous industry to a new cadre of young professionals in schools who we haven't had access to since the demise of Home Economics from the teaching agenda.

“This is a great opportunity to motivate and excite these people and drive them to us and hence we at Compass are pleased to have been involved with the programme development and look forward to helping the education sector with their delivery.”

Anne Pierce, chief executive of Springboard, said her organisation would be working with schools over the coming months to “alert students, parents and employers to the potential offered by diplomas and their benefits”.

“We are running a series of 16 regional events during the autumn and spring terms to provide students with practical orientation tasters in industry venues and inviting parents for briefing sessions in the evenings,” she added.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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