Brend Hotel Group to launch apprentice academy

The Brend Hotel Group has announced that it will launch its own ‘apprenticeship academy’, in what the company claims is the first of its kind in the South West. 

The group, which has 11 luxury hotels throughout Devon and Cornwall, has been offering vocational training to staff since 2004, but training will now take place at the Brend’s flagship Saunton Sands Hotel, instead of at local colleges.

There are currently 60 apprenticeships on the scheme learning a variety of skills across hospitality, including front of house, bar, waiting, kitchen, administration, housekeeping, concierge and portering.

Peter Brend, director of the group, said apprenticeships had proved a very important way of ‘growing your own’ staff. “We are a family company that values its employees,” he said, “and encourages them to stay long-term.

“Apprenticeships are an excellent way of developing and enhancing skill levels and establishing our own academy means we can offer the very best Level 2 and 3 training available in situ.”