Funding for hospitality and catering course set for change

Hospitality employers could benefit from the biggest shake-up in college funding in years, experts said yesterday.

Following the Government’s Further Education White Paper last March and the Leitch Skills Review in December, the way hospitality and catering courses are funded is set to change significantly.

The Government has demanded the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) get tough on colleges failing to hit their targets.

Speaking at the Fit 4 Pace conference in Coventry, John Bolt, head of policy funding policy implementation at the LSC, said: “Under current proposals it would mean colleges doing well and turning out quality catering students would be given the resources to expand what they’re doing.”

“However, those assessed as not up to scratch would receive a ‘yellow card’ before being barred from running the failing course, which would be opened up to training companies in the private sector.”

The Government believes greater involvement of the private sector in training and a cull of colleges running poor catering and hospitality courses should raise standards, helping employers recruit skilled staff.

The LSC has a consultation running on the new funding proposals with a closing date of 30 March.

Number of tourism degree students rises by 30% >>

Lord Leitch's skills report welcomed by People 1st >>

PACE website >>

By Chris Druce

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