Benefits to employers and the industry

  • The Diploma programme designed to develop the skills and attitudes the hospitality sector needs
  • Opportunities for employers to be closely involved in Diploma design and delivery
  • Employer access to potential recruits who are motivated, enthused and committed and who have the right mix of skills and knowledge

Recruitment

Recruiting the right people to roles in the hospitality industry has never been easy. Popular perceptions of the sector include high staff turnover, low skills and low pay, along with unsocial hours. Such perceptions inevitably restrict the numbers of young people considering entering the industry.

With more and more people using hospitality facilities, including hotels, restaurants, pubs and contract catering, the demand for hospitality provision often outstrips the supply of suitable recruits. 

Despite that rather gloomy picture, we all know of success stories where employers recruited young people who had the essential skills and a thirst to continue learning and quickly became a credit to their establishment.

Practical Diploma work is complemented by the study of the industry as a whole, including core topics such as: customer service, working in hospitality teams, dealing with costs and food preparation and cooking. The progression routes from the Diploma in Hospitality include employment, apprenticeships and higher education.

At Advanced level, the Diploma in Hospitality is the equivalent of 3.5 GCE A-levels, so learners on that programme will already have demonstrated their capacity for learning. The qualification is expected to appeal both to those who are already fully committed to hospitality as a career and to those who wish to follow a more work-focused route to advanced vocational training or higher education.

The skills we need

The Diploma in Hospitality is intended to develop the very skills and attitudes that our industry needs and to highlight a career in hospitality as a worthwhile choice for suitable young people, whom it aims to attract. Employer involvement at every stage ensures that the detail of the programme fulfils those aims.

It needs to be emphasised that employers who are involved with the Diploma at a local level will have ready access to some of the most enthused and committed young people who may already be thinking about a career in our industry.