Hospitality and tourism Sector Skill Council People 1st is in discussions with City & Guilds to transfer its accreditation business to them this autumn.

The Hospitality Awarding Body (HAB) is the UK’s specialist awarding body for the industry. It grants 50 NVQ, SVQ and VRQ qualifications through a network of more than 500 centres each year.

Although a deal has not been signed yet, a spokeswoman for City & Guilds said the strategy of adding the awarding body to its complementary business activities made sense, freeing People 1st up to concentrate on its Sector Skills Remit.

HAB would transfer on 1 October this year under the terms of the agreement that is being hammered out, with City & Guilds undertaking to develop the business further.

People 1st chief executive officer Brain Wisdom said: “The transfer of HAB is a positive move for both People 1st and the wider hospitality sector. This transfer means People 1st can build on its existing strategy and accelerate delivery in a number of key areas, particularly in the development of sector skills agreement between industry, Government and education.”

By Chris Druce

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