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APPG for Hospitality and Tourism Inquiry into skills in hospitality

Submit evidence to the inquiry via email to [email protected]

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism Inquiry: ‘How Government can empower hospitality and tourism to help deliver its skills agenda’

With the creation of Skills England in April 2025, the APPG for Hospitality and Tourism is keen to understand what the sectors need from the new body and from government to help them deliver growth and skills in the years ahead.

 

With hospitality being a foundation sector that enables real social accessibility and mobility for new starters in the industry, the inquiry will also explore what Foundation Apprenticeships would do to tackle unemployment and bridge the gap for those leaving education with low academic attainment.

Why now?

As a sector, hospitality has made significant steps in recent years to improve the training and development of its workforce, and as early adopters of the new apprenticeship standards in 2016/17, the industry came together to create level 2 apprenticeships across the key operational roles for chefs and hospitality team members.

During the academic years of 2019/20 to 2022/23, the disruption of COVID and the subsequent cost of living crisis significantly impacted workforce patterns and apprenticeship starts on entry level roles. During this same period, we saw a drop in academic attainment and an increase in mental health issues and special educational needs (SEN).

Government has committed to overhauling the skills landscape, and in particular transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a Growth and Skills Levy. This could see a more modular approach to training, and businesses able to spend their levy funds on non-apprenticeship training.

One potential change is the introduction of Foundation Apprenticeships, as a pathway to level 2 apprenticeships, that could bring the skills, knowledge and behaviours down to entry and level 1.

To inform its recommendations, the APPG will be holding evidence sessions with key stakeholders and will also be accepting written evidence from all those with an interest in the issue.

The APPG is seeking responses to the following questions:

  1. 1

    Accessibility

    New employees in hospitality roles can feel overwhelmed by the commitment of a level 2 apprenticeship. Does the industry recognise this trend? If so, what is causing this trend?

  2. 2

    Recruitment

    What barriers are businesses facing when it comes to recruitment? Are businesses increasingly taking on people who need additional support to join the workforce?

  3. 3

    English and maths attainment

    Government data published in November 2024 stated that 35% of pupils failed to achieve the English and maths grades they needed to access a level 2 apprenticeship without additional learning. Does this represent an unnecessary additional barrier to entry?

  4. 4

    Building a sustainable talent pipeline

    Historically, hospitality was more able to fill vacancies with workers from overseas, but is now more committed to recruiting a domestic workforce. To deliver this commitment, changes to the entry points must reflect the needs of this domestic workforce. What skills would a new employee need to settle into employment with options for progression?

  5. 5

    Retention

    The majority of hospitality employees live and work in their immediate community, often as their first part time job or as a returner to work following caring and other responsibilities. Would a supported start to employment in the industry increase 90-day retention?

  6. 6

    Skills reform

    What are your views on the Apprenticeship Levy and how would you like to see this reformed? What are the key skills that you think the industry should prioritise?

Give your views to the inquiry

The deadline for submissions of written evidence is Friday 7th March and should be no longer than 1,500 words.

Submit your evidence via email to: [email protected]

Submit your evidence to the APPGarrow icon

View from the APPG Chair

Chris Webb MP, Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism APPG, said:

I’m pleased to launch this skills inquiry today and the APPG looks forward to hearing from hospitality businesses and employees, to enable the group to understand how to turbocharge skills delivery and make appropriate recommendations to government.

This is a broad inquiry and I hope to hear from as many people involved in hospitality and tourism as possible.

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