New tourism and hospitality training initiative

Social enterprise Realise Futures is running six, one-day seminars in Suffolk and Norfolk over the next three months targeting employers and tutors working in the hospitality and tourism business sectors.

The seminars are aimed at developing resources and identifying good practise so English and maths are delivered alongside vocational skills in tourism and hospitality - rather than separate to vocational training which is the case at present.

Realise Futures Learning & Development – a provider of adult education and business training in Suffolk – is delivering the Local Response Fund (LRF) project in New Anglia, co-financed by the Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund.

It is supported by Acer, the Association of Colleges in the Eastern Region.

Realise Futures Learning & Development sales and marketing manager Laura Smith, said: “It’s about recognising that English and maths skills are needed for the job and ensuring the workforce - and learners on vocational courses - have their English and maths skills developed to meet the demands of their work.

“This project has come about because of the need to increase basic English and maths skills as part of any vocational training. It was identified as a LEP priority for the whole of New Anglia, with a focus on curricula taught in the sectors of tourism and hospitality within the region.”

“A recent report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranked the UK 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy out of 24 countries, so it is crucial to the region’s success to focus on skills in these areas.

“The objective is for learners to experience integrated development for functional use of English and maths skills within any vocational training they undertake. Those who attend the seminar will help create resources specific to the sector and develop teaching strategies. A database of materials will be developed and good practice shared via social media,” she added.

“We are focussing on supporting 50 tutors and employers, and these seminars are free to attend. Upon attending the seminars, tutors or employers will receive a £100 bursary. Anyone interested can contact me for a place on laura.smith@realisefutures.org”

Seminars are aimed at employers such as hotels, restaurants, corporate hospitality organisations, B&Bs, spas, seaside resorts, gift shops, travel agencies, tourist attractions, casinos, coach and tour operators, events teams, as well as tutors focusing on the hospitality and tourism sector. This could be anything from IT, management skills, administration skills or anything that prepares people to work in this industry.

The seminars include:

Newmarket: Tuesday March 3 at Kings, Kingston Passage

Long Melford: Tuesday April 7– Black Lion, The Green

Ipswich: Wednesday May 13 Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road