The Hospitality Diploma

People 1st, the sector skills council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries, has taken the leading role in the development of the Diploma in Hospitality.

In developing the content of the Diploma in Hospitality the following seven sub-sectors were included to define the sector.

  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Pubs, bars and nightclubs
  • Contract food providers
  • Hospitality services
  • Membership clubs
  • Events

The structure of the Diploma

The Diplomas will be offered at three levels: Foundation, Higher and Advanced

  • Advanced - equivalent to 3.5 GCE A-levels
  • Higher - equivalent to 7 GCSEs
  • Foundation - equivalent to 5 GCSEs

Each Diploma is made up of:

  • Principal learning
  • Generic learning
  • Additional and Specialist Learning 

As part of every Diploma programme, learners will also undertake a minimum period of 10 days' work experience, which will provide them with the opportunity to gain both general employability skills and more specialist sector-related knowledge. We worked with the stakeholders to ensure the qualification content build the knowledge and skills required by employers now and in the future. 

At every level, the Diplomas will also include a project that will enable learners to reach their potential and showcase their skills and knowledge whilst further developing their personal learning and thinking skills.

People 1st has worked closely with a large number of employers, both large and small and covering the whole of the hospitality sector, on developing the content for the Diploma. At the same time, the Hospitality Diploma Development Partnership has widely consulted with training providers, teachers, schools, lecturers, colleges, universities and other key partners involved in education to ensure that the content is valid, up to date and suitable for all young people.