Two North East organisations have joined forces to help raise awareness among a future generation of employees of the opportunities available within Durham City in a range of sectors including Hospitality.
Durham Business Improvement District (BID), which has been tasked with boosting business within the City, has pledged its support for National Careers Service’s Supporting Inspiration initiative.
This comes in the wake of research showing that the North East has outpaced London in food-led premises during the past five years.
According to a Market Growth Monitor Report, by AlixPartners and CGA Peach, the region experienced a 20.6 percent increase in food-led premises between September 2010 and 2015, ahead of London which saw a 20 percent growth.
The Supporting Inspiration initiative helps young people develop an appreciation of the world of work, local labour markets, the skills needs of different business sectors and career opportunities open to them.
One of the areas under the spotlight is the hospitality sector and the aim is to highlight the qualities and skills that this industry requires from recruits, particularly students making the move from school or college to the world of work.
In a recent report People 1st, the sector skills council for the hospitality and tourism sector, estimated that the sector will need 993,000 workers by 2022.
Research conducted by McDonald’s UK showed that 97 percent of employers in this field see soft skills as a major factor towards business success.
Adam Deathe, Business Development Manager for Durham BID, said: “We’re delighted to endorse Supporting Inspiration, which is a very positive initiative. Through our involvement we hope to raise awareness amongst young people regarding the successful and rewarding careers that can be achieved in Durham City which is home to many successful businesses in the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors.
“In Durham, 70 percent of business is customer-facing to some extent, so it is important that students appreciate the skillset, including softer skills, such as engaging with customers, that is required to work across these sectors.
“The initiative is extremely worthwhile as it enables businesses, schools and colleges in the area to work together more effectively for the good of young people in our city, and ultimately of the local economy.”
Carly Hinds, Partnership Manager for the National Careers Service in the North East, said: “We’re very pleased that Durham BID is on board with the Supporting Inspiration initiative.
“The BID is a very influential body, which can help us to highlight the many opportunities Durham City has to offer school and college leavers.”
The National Careers Service in the North East recently launched a Supporting Inspiration portal,which aims to transform the way employers contribute to making young people in the region work-ready.
The service, which is part of the Government’s Inspiration agenda, uses the portal to match up employers willing to inform students about the world of work, with schools and colleges across the region.
It connects with employers, in Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley, Tyneside and Wearside, who can offer a range of careers education support such as providing work experience placements, mentoring students face-to-face and online and attending careers fairs.
Businesses in the Durham Bid area are charged 1.5 percent of their rateable value, with the money raised – approximately £1.6m during five years – spent on schemes to boost tourism and business and encourage more inward investment in the city.