Local MP Alan Mak recently met with a number of new apprentices at Premier Inn in Havant to hear more about how they are benefiting from the scheme.
After the meeting, Alan was shown around the hotel, which opened two years ago just off the A27 in Langstone, creating around 30 new jobs.
The Government has set a target of three million more apprenticeships by 2020, with Alan keen to find out how they are helping people locally. In the Havant parliamentary constituency, last year just under 900 people started apprenticeships. Alan met with Matt, Harry and Michelle, apprentices working at the Premier Inn on Langstone Road.
Premier Inn was named the UK's top-rated hotel chain for 2017 according to Which? With over 750 budget hotels and more than 70,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland.
In 2012, parent company Whitbread created WISE (Whitbread Investing in Skills and Employment), a recruitment, training and educational scheme, to speed-up, scale-up and join-up the firm’s engagement with the education system and communities.
Alan said: “Schemes like WISE shows how businesses can make a big difference by helping people get off to a great start in their careers. A strong local economy is my top priority and having organised three Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fairs, it was great to meet with Matt, Harry and Michelle.
“Nationally, I’m committed to boosting apprenticeships, as they give young people the opportunity to learn a valuable skill while earning at the same time, and raise the productivity of businesses. The skills that Whitbread apprentices are learning will give them a strong foundation for future success.”
Level 4 apprentice Matthew Cooper explained how Whitbread’s scheme has helped him develop.
He said: “This programme has developed me both on a personal and professional level. It has given me the insight and determination to create my own goals and take control of my career, progression and journey. All topics we have learnt about have aided me to become a better manager and able to help the team with their own journeys within Premier Inn. I would highly recommend people consider joining the programme. It is a great qualification to have within the hospitality sector and broadens opportunities with progression and career-driven persons”.
Premier Inn Operations Manager Abigail Williams welcomed the visit. She added: “Apprentices are so important for our business – they are the building blocks of business success because they help ensure we are supporting and developing our next generation of managers. The programme really builds confidence for them to become experts in their chosen field. It’s great to watch our apprentices’ develop and shine and it was fantastic to welcome Alan Mak to the hotel, introduce him to our apprentices and show him what we’re all about”.
Photo captions: Alan Mak MP meeting with Whitbread Apprentices at Havant Premier Inn.
Extra info for picture caption
- Harry Rutledge Level 3 (Supervisor expert area Kitchen Management)
- Michelle Jones Level 3 (Supervisor expert area Housekeeping Management)
- Matthew Cooper Level 4 (Foundation Degree Hospitality Management)