Government advisor Mike Tomlinson is in talks with the Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE) about putting hospitality training on the new secondary school diploma.

PACE representatives from Thomas Danby College in Leeds and the Asian and Oriental School of Catering in London have met Tomlinson several times to stress the importance of hospitality training as part of the new qualification for 14- to 19-year-olds.

A PACE source said: "There was a gap in the education white paper. PACE wants to put hospitality on the agenda - the plan is to steal a march on other industries.