Responding to the news that apprenticeships in licensed hospitality are on the increase, the ALMR has praised the sector’s ability to provide high-quality on-the-job training and called on the Government to do more to support hospitality apprenticeships.
Figures released by the Skills Funding Agency and BIS show that, despite decreases in retail and tourism apprenticeships, starts and completions in licensed hospitality have increased 814% and 314% respectively.
ALMR Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls said: “Apprenticeships are a great way of providing employees with robust transferable skills, and businesses with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic workforce. This is particularly apparent in the licensed hospitality sector where the number of both starters, and those completing training, are on the rise.
“Pubs, bars and restaurants are sitting on a wealth of expertise that they are ready and willing to offer. A proper focus from the Government on developing these opportunities by: fully funding apprenticeships for 19-24 year olds, increasing funding for over-25s and encouraging businesses with bonuses every time they take on an apprentice, will allow the sector to capitalise on these encouraging statistics.
“The ALMR has also urged the Government to lower the cost of employment by removing the jobs tax for under-25s. The scrapping of National Insurance Contributions for under-21s has provided a boost to employment in licensed hospitality; an extension of this approach to under-25s will help the sector continue its good work.”
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