MP: We’ll eradicate youth unemployment
THE Stratford hotel and Stratford-upon-Avon College have launched a new apprenticeship campaign with MP Nadhim Zahawi.
The event was part of the ninth annual National Apprenticeship Week, co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service to celebrate apprenticeships, as well as the positive impact they have on individuals and businesses.
QHotels, which owns The Stratford, in Arden Street, launched its Get into Q campaign, pledging to create an additional 100 apprenticeship opportunities this year.
Mr Zahawi saw the apprentices at the hotel demonstrating their hospitality skills when they served afternoon tea at the launch.
Mr Zahawi, who is also co-chair of the government’s Apprenticeship Delivery Board and Prime Minister David Cameron’s apprenticeships adviser, told the Herald: “It is phenomenal, it is inspiring and it is humbling. The real stars are the apprentices themselves.
“The apprentices I have spoken to this week are just remarkable, and it’s great to hear that they see their apprenticeships as not just a job, but as a career.”
During the week, the government itself pledged to create three million high quality apprenticeships over the next five years by working with employers and further education providers to help more businesses make apprentices part of their growth strategy.
The new Apprenticeship Levy will be doubling the annual level of spending on apprenticeships to £2.5billion.
Mr Zahawi added: “By 2020, we hope to have eradicated youth unemployment.” Among the college and hotel representatives at the launch, the MP met the hotel’s General Manager, Chris Steadman, and the college’s Principal Nicola Mannock.
Mrs Mannock said: “There is a skills shortage in catering learning, but doing an apprenticeship means that apprentices are learning whilst working and earning.
“It is ideal for people to go into as a career path and Stratford is an ideal location for apprentices.
“The college is working across the region with different organisations.”
Bryan Anderson, the college’s apprenticeship team leader for work-based learning, said at the Get into Q launch: “The professionalism and standard of delivery I’ve seen today is testament to their commitment to the catering industry, as well as the rigour of the training provided to them by the college.”
Mr Steadman added: “We’re thrilled to welcome MP Nadhim Zahawi to The Stratford to showcase the high calibre of apprentices in the region and the experience and skills our apprentices have developed during their time at QHotels.
“I am really passionate about apprenticeships, I share the passion to help develop QHotels’ apprentices and whatever they are doing in their general training and development in the company.”
Lisa Redding, group resourcing manager at QHotels, said that the overall aim is to have 300 apprentices across the group by 2017, which she said would help close the growing skills gap in the hospitality industry and make a real difference to the future careers of young people in the region and in the country.
