Whitbread to support 100 interns with special needs disabilities

Whitbread has revealed a long-term ambition to get 100 supported interns into paid employment from special needs educational establishments, to mark this year’s Purple Tuesday, the movement striving to improve customer experience for disabled people and their families year-round.

Whitbread, which owns UK hotel company Premier Inn, has been working with specialist colleges for over a decade and has built mini-Premier Inn hotels on site at Derwen and Hereward colleges in Oswestry and Coventry – identical to ‘real’ hotels – which operate as training facilities for students.

It will draw on its existing relationships to find new partnerships across the UK and achieve its goal.

The hotels are completely indistinguishable from regular hotels, right down to ‘do not disturb’ signs on the doors and the tea and coffee-making facilities, featuring three en-suite bedrooms, a reception desk, corridor and linen rooms.

Whitbread stated that they were made possible because of the support of some of its suppliers, who generously donated their time and money to support the builds.

The tiny Premier Inns, built as part of Whitbread’s Force For Good programme, are partnership projects with the national further educational facilities, which specialise in skills training for independent living and employment for young people with disabilities and additional needs.

From guest relations to housekeeping, the facilities enable young people to learn about all areas of hospitality in a realistic and safe way. These sites are believed to be the “only examples” of their type in the UK.

Additionally, young people taking part in the programme have the opportunity to undertake supported internships and many have gone on to paid employment in Premier Inn hotels across the country.

Retention rates for students who move into employment with Premier Inn are high, with the majority still employed by the company.

For others, the experience has built their confidence and relationships/skills for life with some going on to work for other major companies outside of hospitality.

Simon Ewins, managing director for Premier Inn and Restaurants and Whitbread Executive Sponsor for Disability Inclusion, said: “As an inclusive employer our longstanding college partnerships – and of course the graduates who have gone on to work for Premier Inn – are incredibly important to us.

“We welcome tens of millions of guests to our hotels and restaurants every year, lots of who have disabilities – hidden and visible – and it’s really important they feel represented in our team member base. We recognise true inclusion never stands still and so we’re absolutely delighted to announce our intent to accelerate our work in this vital area.”