National Apprenticeship Week highlights UK hospitality chef shortage
This National Apprenticeship Week, Greene King has reaffirmed its commitment to easing the hospitality industry’s skills gap. The UK’s largest pub retailer and brewer will continue to train young people throughout 2017 through its award-winning apprenticeship scheme and The Prince’s Trust Get into Hospitality programme.
Research shows that in order to keep up with demand, the UK’s hospitality sector will require an additional 1.3m staff, including 11,000 chefs, by 20241. Greene King is mitigating this by boosting recruitment of all back of house positions, including chefs. It is also continuing to invest in its two key training schemes – the Greene King Apprenticeship Programme and the Get into Hospitality Programme, in partnership with The Prince’s Trust. Both schemes provide the skills that young people need to work in the hospitality industry, and in doing so help to mitigate the industry-wide skills gap.
Last year, the pub company and brewer announced it would offer 10,000 apprenticeships over the next three years, and it is on track to fulfil this pledge. The business has welcomed more than 9,000 apprentices through its doors since the launch of its award-winning scheme in 2011.
Rooney Anand, chief executive of Greene King, said: “It’s more important than ever that we continue to bring young people into the hospitality industry and show that it can provide a stable, exciting and rewarding career path. It is becoming recognised that there is a skills shortage for back of house roles, so we’re keen to develop talent in this area. Our successful apprenticeship scheme, and The Prince’s Trust Get into Hospitality programme, allows us to do this. We’re looking forward to welcoming many more apprentices throughout 2017.”