National Skills Academy for Travel and Tourism

Following criticism that the industry wasn’t doing enough to develop a co-ordinated approach towards training & development, over the past 12 months ITT has joined forces with ABTA and worked closely with People 1st and leading employers to develop a National Skills Academy for Travel and Tourism.

We believe that parents, students and individuals looking for work don’t understand the nature and complexity of the travel industry and the wide range of skills needed to progress.

There is also a lack of consistency in the quality of travel and tourism graduates – too many colleges just aren’t being flexible enough in providing the training solutions the industry needs and many graduates have to actually be retrained on the job.

Quite simply there is too much wastage in the system and its costing employers money.

The Government is planning to issue a call for proposals to develop a new wave of Skills Academies. People 1st has have already secured over £3 million to develop a hospitality skills academy and the potential for a further £100 million for its future learners.

But there will be stiff competition, as many other sectors will also be bidding for the available funding. The best chance the travel and tourism industry has of securing that funding is to show there is employer support across the board.

There are a number of great companies supporting our plans including Thomas Cook, TUI, Co-operative Travel, Hoseasons and Advantage Travel. Our aim is to put a case to government to access some initial funding to develop a full business plan.

The Academy will also fit very well with the new Travel and Tourism Diploma that People 1st are developing for school pupils aged 14-19. This in itself will help us interest and attract young people at an early age. The Academy will offer them the progression they need once they enter the sector and give them the means to build a rewarding career.

We need your support in this process and would like to get your views. Please complete our short online survey at www.people1stsurveys.co.uk/nsa/ or contact Phil Raysford, Development Director at People 1st, email: phil.raynsford@people1st.co.uk, tel: 07769 643 218.

This is going to be a one off opportunity to really raise the game in how we train and how we are perceived by the public at large. We must seize it with both hands.