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Whitbread has extended its Thrive programme to the Liverpool City Region, offering a blueprint for tackling disability employment gaps.
The Thrive programme is an employer-led initiative supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into work.
As a result, the hospitality group, which owns Premier Inn, has launched a mini Premier Inn training facility at Wirral Met College to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into work.
The facility mirrors a functioning hotel, featuring three en-suite bedrooms, a reception desk, corridor and linen room. Students gain hands-on experience in hospitality roles, from housekeeping to front-of-house duties.
With just 4.8% of people with learning difficulties in paid work, Whitbread stated that Thrive presents a practical approach to inclusive employment.
The company aims to secure 100 supported internships each year through SEND educational institutions, leading into paid roles.
The new facility is expected to support an additional 36 students annually, many of whom progress into supported internships or permanent roles.
Thrive forms part of Whitbread’s Force for Good programme and has supported hundreds of young people into employment at Premier Inn and other workplaces.
Simon Ewins, managing director of Premier Inn UK Hotels and Restaurants, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted to bring Thrive to the Liverpool City Region. Thrive shows how businesses can lead the way in making jobs more accessible to everyone.
“We believe there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. Thrive shows how the private sector can meet the moment: it’s not just a corporate initiative—it’s a real-world demonstration of how inclusive employment can work at scale. Huge thanks to everyone who has worked so hard on this project, in particular CLC Group and Holden and Lee who have made the build a reality.”
Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability, added: “I’m delighted to see a major company like Whitbread finding innovative ways to help close the disability employment gap and unlock the huge benefits of work for disabled people.
“Alongside our historic £1bn investment in disability employment support, programmes such as Thrive show that together, business and government can break down barriers and give disabled people the opportunities they deserve.”
