Skills & Recruitment
The Tourism, Hospitality and Events sector is diverse. It encompasses many elements of different sub-sectors including accommodation and food services activities, such as
- hotels and other accommodation
- restaurants
- beverage and event catering services
- outdoor adventure activities
- visitor attractions.
In August 2021 Visit Wales launched a campaign to encourage more people to work in the tourism and hospitality industry.
The campaign focuses on highlighting vacancies in the sector, amid increased customer demand and more people choosing domestic holiday destinations this summer.
It also covers personal development opportunities and potential career paths in roles such as
- front of house
- chefs
- housekeeping
- supervisory and management roles
The campaign is being run in partnership with Working Wales – the Welsh Government’s employability gateway, for those aged 16 and over. It provides a tailored, impartial and inclusive advice and coaching service, supporting access to employment and training to help further careers and improve wellbeing.
For full details visit the Working Wales website. More case studies and films will be available in the coming months.
As part of the campaign, assets and a new toolkit are now available. The toolkit is available to
- help stakeholders with recruiting staff
- raise awareness of the great career opportunities in tourism and hospitality
Support the campaign by keeping an eye out on social media and using #TheExperienceMakers. For full details of the campaign visit the Working Wales website.
Colleges/training providers
- Grwp Llandrillo Menai includes Coleg LLandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion Dwyfor and delivers courses across Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd. Businesses with vacancies can complete the Employer Vacancies Form and submit it to employerjobs@gllm.ac.uk - the vacancies will be posted on the college website and highlighted to students.
- Coleg y Cymoedd has campuses in Aberdare, Nantgarw, Rhondda (Llwynypia) and Ystrad Mynach. More information is available on the Coleg y Cymoedd. To discuss your vacancies please contact the Employment bureau team on 01443663229/07971341251 or email Futures@Cymoedd.ac.uk.
- Bridgend College can discuss a variety of methods for supporting with recruitment for businesses of any size across South Wales. More information can be found through cyfleoedd.co.uk and contacting Steve Jones - Cyfleoedd@bridgend.ac.uk or 01656 302302 ext 184
- Coleg Cambria has six sites delivering courses across North East Wales. Business can find out how to advertise vacancies on the online Job Shop. Information is also available on offering work experience to students.
- Coleg Sir Gar campuses span Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion and businesses can advertise job roles across all campuses. If you would like more information please contact Filipe Nunes, Filipe.Nunes@colegsirgar.ac.uk or 07468 470 245.
- Advertise opportunities at Cardiff Metropolitan University - You can advertise vacancies with students directly via the Cardiff Met internal job site, MetHub. To advertise a role to students please register and create an account. Your account will be approved in 2-3 business days and, once approved, you can upload jobs instantly. Register with MetHub online. Further help is available from careers@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
- Cambrian Training Company delivers work-based apprenticeship training across the whole of Wales and specialises in supporting businesses in the Hospitality & Tourism sector.
Their team will discuss your business needs and the funding available to recruit and train staff, and can support your business to apply for Kickstart placements, help to advertise & recruit an apprentice free of charge and deliver high quality apprenticeship training: Their apprenticeship job vacancies are advertised on their website, apprenticeship vacancy national service and their social media. To find out more, contact the Cambrian Training team.
We will continue to collate and share this type of information via the newsletter, in the meantime please contact your local college (during term time) or training provider to see if they can help with advertising your vacancies.
Local recruitment initiatives/campaigns
- Conwy Borough Council have introduced a new recruitment campaign for the tourism and hospitality industry – My Conwy Career. This campaign will showcase what it’s like working in the tourism and hospitality industry by using real-life examples from employees currently working in the sector. If your business is based in the county of Conwy visit My Conwy Career for more details.
For more information about the campaign, or if you have any employees who would like to be featured in a case study, email jasmin.koffler@conwy.gov.uk. If you have any job vacancies that you would like support recruiting for, email the Engagement Officer communitiesforwork@conwy.gov.uk. - Gwaith Gwynedd supports people to get into work and also supports local businesses with recruitment. For more information visit the Gwynedd Council website - phone: 01286 674698 / 07980923934 or email GwaithGwynedd@gwynedd.llyw.cymru.
In September 2019, following extensive stakeholder engagement, an industry led skills partnership was formed. In the December an independent Chair was appointed, with Visit Wales providing secretariat services.
The aim of the Partnership is
- to gather evidence based information and industry views
- to identify issues and concerns around people and skills shortages
- to propose solutions to sector stakeholders, for example Welsh Government, Regional Learning and Skills Partnerships
- to disseminate information to the sector on recruitment, training provision, funding, best practice etc.
The Partnership’s role will be
- to provide leadership and direction for the tourism and hospitality industry in Wales in relation to skills issues
- to encourage the sharing of information and to propose solutions to address concerns
- to consider strategic priorities identified by stakeholders
- to advise on implementation and the resources necessary to deliver strategic outcomes
- to provide direction on improving the skill base in the sector, attracting new entrants and retaining skills professionals.
Although discussions continued during 2020, the full partnership met for the first time in December 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Date of Meeting: December 3 2020.
At this meeting the partnership:
- Discussed the current skills position for the T & H industry
- Launched the Tourism and Hospitality Flexible Skills Programme,
- Hosted the Qualifications Wales launch of the review of qualifications in Travel, Tourism, Hospitality and Catering.
- Discussed the key findings from the Regional Skills Partnerships’ latest reports on the impact of Covid-19 on skills and employment in Tourism and Hospitality.
- Discussed the findings of the Regional Skills Partnerships
- Discussed issues affecting apprentices.
Date of Meeting: January 28 2021
The partnership discussed:
- The skills and recruitment support available for individuals and businesses in Wales, including:
- Flexible Skills Programme
- Personal Learning Accounts
- The Kickstart programme
- Working Wales
Looking to the future, the group will
- continue to collate and disseminate information on skills, training and recruitment needs for the industry
- continue to engage with the industry via the partnership
- ascertain the data we have – identify what else we need to know
- identify how to support businesses to get going quickly once they have an opening date
- consider how to address perceptions of careers in Tourism and Hospitality
- identify issues and possible solutions for medium and long-term skills and recruitment
For more information on the partnership, please contact Kerry.Thatcher@gov.wales.
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus can offer businesses help and support with recruiting and hiring people. More information about how they can help your business is available at Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Recruit an Apprentice
To find out how recruiting an apprentice can be good for your business, and what support you get with costs you can visit here.
Skills Gateway
A new campaign has launched to promote the important support available to businesses to help them deal with the continued pressures of coronavirus and plan for a brighter future.
The ‘We’re in Your Corner’ campaign will encourage firms the length and breadth of Wales to take advantage of the skills and employment advice and guidance that is on offer through the Skills Gateway for Business online portal.
A range of support is available such as:
- assistance with developing the capabilities of staff
- advice with recruitment and training programmes
- a brochure to explain all the skills and recruitment support available for employers
FREE bespoke service for employers: Disabled People’s Employment Champions
The Welsh Government has employed a network of Disabled People’s Employment Champions, supported by Business Wales Disabled People’s Employment Advisors, to provide advice, information and support to employers across Wales.
Any business in Wales interested in increasing the diversity of their workforce and finding out more about the many benefits of and support available for employing disabled people can contact the Champions at: DPEC@gov.wales.
Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
Personal Learning Accounts
Help your existing staff gain the qualifications and skills your businesses needs through a free, flexible college course.
Personal Learning Accounts are delivered by colleges across Wales who will be happy to discuss your specific training needs. Find out more and register your interest via the Skills Gateway.
Business Online Support Service (BOSS)
BOSS is here to help you and your employees develop your skills to benefit your business. It’s free online learning made simple. There are courses available covering
- Finance
- IT
- Marketing
- Business Ideas and Business Planning - and many more.
Courses are bilingual, up to date, with unlimited 24/7 access to suit you with live-chat and a phone helpline to support you. To find out more and watch a short video explaining what it’s about and how it can help you go to https://businesswales.gov.wales/boss/
Flexible Skills Programme for Tourism and Hospitality
Funding is available to support employees of Wales-based tourism and hospitality businesses to attend training courses that are relevant to the sector. This can include face-to-face, or online training.
The maximum contribution from the Welsh Government is £25,000, with WG contributing 50% of the cost of the training.
There is no requirement to use any particular training company - the applicant may choose any certified training provider. The supported training on this programme must be accredited to a recognised industry standard.
Training that can be supported under this programme includes
- Covid related activities, including health and safety training
- Specialist training e.g. Professional Cookery, food and beverage, housekeeping, outdoor instructor/high ropes
- Leadership and Management
- Customer Service
- ICT and Digital Skills
- Sustainable Tourism
To see if your business is eligible and for more information visit the Flexible Skills website.
Well-being
Employers in Wales have long recognised the need to promote and support employee health and well-being including a good work-life balance and healthy lifestyle.
The benefits of addressing the physical, mental and social well-being of employees can lead to:
- reduced sickness and absence levels
- increased productivity
- improved quality of work
- better staff engagement
- reduced staff turnover
Employees who are supported to take ownership of their own well-being have:
- reduced stress levels
- more motivation
- better morale
- increased job satisfaction
- a heightened awareness of colleagues’ well-being
The information presented here provides guides, tools and support for you to establish and develop the well-being culture of your business, and to involve employees in the conversation on workplace health.
Working Wales – support for individuals
This is the Welsh Government’s programme to deliver free, impartial, employability and careers information, advice and guidance to individuals.
It can help people who
- need support to enter employment or looking for work,
- have been made redundant, as well as people currently employed, who would like to up-skill.
For more information go to the Working Wales website.