Two apprentices have been named as the first in the industry to successfully complete the new hospitality apprenticeship standards.
Supported by HIT Training, Hannah Holden from Curve Theatre in Leicester and Chris Wilcox from The Grove in Hertfordshire both achieved the Hospitality Team Member Apprenticeship standard – with Chris earning himself a coveted Distinction. In completing the programmes, both apprentices have gained the skills required to adapt and respond to a varied workload and progress up the career ladder.
HIT Training is the first national hospitality training provider to deliver the new apprenticeship standards, which are part of the Government-led overhaul to the apprenticeship system. The standards are designed to raise the bar and ensure training is in line with the requirements of the fast-paced hospitality industry and individual job roles.
Unlike the old apprenticeship frameworks, the new standards focus on one end-point assessment, which was carried out by Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) for Hannah and Chris. The new process is designed to be even more rigorous, with the final assessment being tailored to each individual apprenticeship. Across all standards, this includes a two-hour observation, multiple choice exam and interview to discuss the apprentices’ learning journey and past experiences.
Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at HIT Training, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled that both Chris and Hannah are the first to complete the hospitality standards within the sector. This is down to the hard work both apprentices have put in over the past year, the support of their employers and the team at HIT, who have all worked in partnership to progress Chris and Hannah’s development.
“From the end of December 2017 all apprenticeships will switch over to the new standards, which will make a huge difference to businesses within our industry as they encourage apprentices to take a more forward-thinking, business-like and creative approach to learning. This will ultimately help employees gain the skills and knowledge required to carve out a successful and long-term career, future-proofing the workforce for employers.”
Hannah Holden from Curve said: “If someone had told me at the start of my career that I’d be in a supervisor position within three years I wouldn’t have believed them. Taking up an apprenticeship has enabled me to progress and given me the confidence to manage staff and oversee the day-to-day running of the café and bar at the theatre.
“Having the final assessment at the end of my qualification worked really well as it allowed more time to prepare and study. My trainer from HIT has also helped every step of the way, providing guidance on how to work under pressure and strategies for answering challenging questions that may have come up in my final interview. This meant that I never felt like I was on my own during the whole process.”
Annette Allmark, Director of Strategic Policy at People 1st, added: “We are delighted to see the first apprentices from HIT Training complete the new hospitality apprenticeship standards. As one of the first providers to be recognised by People 1st for its ‘gold standard’ service to employers, and with its proactive approach to embracing the changes to apprenticeships, HIT Training continues to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring employers and apprentices get the maximum value from the new standards. We look forward to hearing how these learners develop and progress to the next stage of their careers.”
As part of its commitment to offer the highest quality training schemes, HIT introduced the Hospitality Supervisor, Team Leader, Chef de Partie and Customer Service Practitioner standards earlier this year, as well as Commis Chef and Hospitality Team Member standard in 2016.
For more information on HIT Training, please visit www.hittraining.co.uk or call 0800 093 5892