The UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group has announced a new apprenticeship programme alongside the creation of 1,000 jobs.

Mar 26 2009 by Alun Thorne, Birmingham Post

Whitbread, which owns the Costa Coffee, Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre brands, will open 12 new hotels in 2009 as well as four restaurants and more than 100 coffee shops.

The company’s new apprenticeship programme for staff is unique in the industry as it can be completed in six months - half the time of a normal NVQ.

The scheme, at the end of which employees receive NVQ level 2 and Key Skills certificates, is open to all staff but especially targets the 1,000 new joiners.

Whitbread anticipates that 3,000 members of staff will have gained NVQs and certificates by the end of 2009.

They can opt to be trained in adult numeracy, literacy, housekeeping, food processing and cooking, food and drink service and front office work.

Whitbread chief executive Alan Parker said: “We need to keep demonstrating that working in the hospitality industry is a great career move, not just a job. We anticipate that 20 per cent of our workforce will have a nationally recognised qualification by 2010.”

Tony McNulty, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, lent his support to the programme as it was launched at the House of Commons today.

He said: “At a time when we are facing global economic challenges, I am encouraged to see that Whitbread is investing in training.”