Hospitality and catering qualifications added to government's free courses for jobs offer

Hospitality and catering qualifications have been added to the government's free courses for jobs offer, including qualifications in professional cookery and pâtisserie.

The 12 courses now added to the list include Level 3 diplomas and are available to all adults without an A-Level equivalent qualification, giving them the opportunity to gain new skills for free.

As part of the government's hospitality strategy launched earlier this month, it is exploring options for vocational skills and training that support careers in the sector, including apprenticeships, bootcamps and other qualifications like a T-Level.

A recent UKHospitality survey suggested there is a staff shortfall of 188,000 across the sector.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: "We've put skills at the heart of our plans to build back better, so no matter where you live you have to opportunity to learn the skills to build the career best for you.

"To help meet the changing needs of the economy, we're adding hospitality and catering courses to our free courses for jobs offer, including qualifications in professional cookery and pâtisserie. I'd encourage anyone looking to start a new career or upskill in the industry to find out how they can benefit."

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "Having campaigned hard for it, we are delighted to see the inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

"As restrictions are removed on pubs and they begin their road to recovery, we know they have a vital role to play in helping the communities they serve build back better. The inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee is a great first step for this.

"Our pubs are on the search for new talent to nurture and develop. People using the Lifetime Skills Guarantee for a hospitality or catering qualification will have the opportunity to work in a sunrise industry and begin a rewarding and fulfilling career that can see them rise very quickly to running their own pub!

"For existing talent in our pubs, the inclusion of these new qualifications will help enable them to upskill as part of their career development."

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, added: "Following recent discussions with the secretary of state for education, at which he committed to review and consider UKHospitality recommendations, today's announcement is a fantastic reflection of industry and government working collaboratively to deliver workable employment and skills solutions. The addition of hospitality and catering qualifications to the free courses for jobs as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee is a hugely positive and timely development for hospitality, and something for which UKHospitality has lobbied for some time.

"Despite being the nation's third highest pre-Covid employer, our sector currently faces an acute skills and staff shortage. Hopefully today's announcement, hot on the heels of a bespoke hospitality strategy, can be one of many steps towards upskilling our workforce and allowing people to experience the wonderful, fulfilling roles that hospitality has to offer. Our sector will be at the forefront of the skills and job-led recovery that this nation needs and this initiative will help people transition into our sector."