With recruitment challenges affecting businesses across the sector, could apprenticeships be the solution?
The Business Visits and Events Partnership certainly thinks so, and is getting ready to reignite the events industry apprenticeship scheme.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships that takes place across England, we spoke to event professionals about the various benefits of taking on an apprentice.
Laura Capell-Abra, founder of Stress Matters, said: “I think apprenticeships are an invaluable method for us to encourage new talent to join the workforce in a way that focuses on productivity and community whilst giving people of all backgrounds the ability to access some great employers that may have previously been closed to them.
Photo Credit: Laura Capell-Abra“Whilst I went to university, my course was very similar to an apprenticeship and I saw huge value first hand from having such hands-on work experience. It's what I credit my high capacity for work to now and why I can (just about!) manage two companies on a daily basis. I became involved in the event apprenticeship right at the start and have been coaching (and then hiring!) apprentices through the programme ever since. Seeing their development across the course of the programme has been amazing and it brings me real personal satisfaction knowing that as an industry we are doing the right thing to open up doors to the industry to so many new people.
“Businesses often think that having an apprentice will be hard work, that it isn't worth it or that now isn't the right time. In my experience, it's almost always the right time to bring someone new into the team to offer new perspectives and to show how with a little encouragement, homegrown talent can rise up through the ranks. The support that your apprentice will get from the team at Realise (who are the only dedicated event-apprenticeship provider) is huge and you get the benefit of watching a team member transform from shy and passive to confident, experienced and valuable member of the team.”
David Preston, CEO of events apprenticeship programme provider Realise said: “We’re trying to raise the topic again, to get people to think about apprenticeships as part of their overall recruitment plan. Make sure you’re looking at young talent as much as at the skilled professionals you already have, as it is proven over and over again that new talent brings new ideas to your business.”
Joanne Barratt, MD of The Venues Collection, said: “We need to grow our own; to grow the people we need for the future, because as they develop, so do our businesses and ultimately, the entire industry flourishes. We are part of Compass Group UK & Ireland and as such we have an amazing array of training, apprenticeship and development opportunities to help our employees to develop and grow, perform better in their role, or even change paths entirely across the many sectors within Compass.
Photo Credit: Joanne Barratt“We need to go back to grassroots and ensure that school leavers and graduates know that working in hospitality and events offers a viable, stable and rewarding career path. To do this, we need to share the success stories, get involved with developing the courses and encourage more people into our vibrant and rewarding industry.
“Apprenticeships are not just for school leavers; our group executive chef Sam Morgan has been selected to take part in Forward with Marcus Wareing, a ground-breaking culinary apprenticeship programme in collaboration with the esteemed chef, and is now studying for his NVQ Level 4 Senior Culinary Chef qualification; whilst Natalie Hulme, director of sales at Yarnfield Park is using the apprenticeship scheme to study for her Level 7 Senior Leadership MBA (master’s in business administration). Each of our venues within The Venues Collection will have two apprentices by the end of 2022, and we will also have one at group level. Apprentices are inclusive and offer the same opportunities to everyone no matter their upbringing, cultural background or financial situation.”
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
