Major European hotels conglomerate Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) last week announced that it will create 3,000 new hospitality jobs in the UK over the next three years.
The firm, which operates the Holiday Inn chain, said it will create 1,100 jobs across its 275 hotels this year alone with the remainder appearing over the next two years. In addition, IHG is launching a hospitality training academy in London.
The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, who attended the launch of the academy at a soon-to-open Holiday Inn at London’s Stratford City, said: “It’s an added investment that means young people can learn the skills for the industry in a local college, and then start their career in a local hotel.
“This shows real investment in our future workforce, is a huge boost for jobs across the country, but crucially will see local people benefit from training and work.”
The firm’s Holiday Inn chain is official hotel provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and successful students of the academy will be front running candidates for the 140 new jobs that will be created by the opening of two new hotels in the Olympic Park vicinity.
Richard Solomons, CEO of IHG, said: “Hospitality is a great business to be in and working in hotels offers people exciting career paths for the future. We’re pleased to be working with our hotel owners to create jobs and training opportunities in the UK at this time.
“The IHG Academy programme allows us to join with local education bodies in the UK and around the world to provide real-life skills and enhance employment prospects for local people. IHG benefits by having access to talent from the neighbourhoods near our hotels.”
The IHG Academy programme, which was developed in partnership with Newham College, comprises a six-month intensive course that combines the core elements of Hospitality Skills Diploma NVQ with four weeks of work experience in a hotel. The resultant qualification is a Hospitality Level 2 Diploma.
IHG currently employs over 15,000 people in the UK, where it operates Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. The company has 4,480 hotels worldwide.
