The hospitality sector continues to experience change and priorities for the industry include:

• improving the image of the industry as an employer
• increasing employer engagement in relevant learning and development programmes
• ensuring greater uptake of industry recognised qualifications
• promoting career opportunities into and within the sector

Action to achieve these aims includes:

• more imaginative and attractive remuneration packages
• more comprehensive and systematic training linked to qualifications and rewards for learning achievement, supported by good mentoring
• greater practical content in both HE and FE courses
• more focus on innovation in HE provision/delivery.
• provision at all levels to include broader skills such as customer service, and key and basic skills where relevant
• more effective maintenance of the relevance of vocational qualifications to employers
• greater support for qualifications by employers
• better employer understanding of national qualifications as skills and competence benchmarks which aid recruitment
• more flexible and cost effective access to learning and qualifications to increase the opportunity for trainees to develop their employability, and provide the base for progression to higher level skills
• greater collaboration between work-based and education-based training providers encouragement of employer networks and clusters, such as tourism clusters through which skills development can be promoted
• provision by employers and learning providers of work placements that give structured experience, accredited where possible, so that young people develop a positive impression of the industry, and thus increase recruitment potential

Source: Hospitality Sector Report  2002