Barclays Bank has partnered with the British Hospitality Association (BHA) to double the organisation’s goal of creating 60,000 new jobs in the sector by 2015.
The new job-creation pledge is double the initial figure that the BHA had initially announced it will help to create at its annual summit back in June.
Barclays will build on the BHA’s ‘inspiring the next generation’ campaign through a nationwide tour of events to showcase the variety of career paths for young people in hospitality, helping local employers to find young people who are keen to start a career with them.
“As one of the largest industries in the country, the hospitality and leisure sector has an important role to play in driving growth across the UK,” said Mike Saul, Barclays’ head of hospitality and leisure.
“Barclays is committed to supporting this growth, and it’s vital that our next generation of workers are able to access the varied, and fulfilling career opportunities that exist within it.
“This partnership will bring together our combined expertise to support these goals.”
Through its LifesSkills: Bridges Into Work programme, Barclays will also support BHA members in setting up apprenticeships programmes for themselves using Barclays expertise and know-how.
The BHA will join and back LifeSkills by listing thousands of work experience opportunities on the LifeSkills website www.barclayslifeskills.com.
Speaking at At the beginning of the year, the BHA’s chief executive Ufi Ibrahim told hospitality businesses across the UK that they must ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to job creation by making more opportunities available to young people if they want to receive more support from the Government in other areas.
