TOURISM bosses in the area are looking to the next generation.
The Shakespeare’s England Destination Management Plan aims to work with schools and colleges across the county to attract new talent to the tourism industry, which is worth an estimated £547million annually to the area, and supports up to 10,000 jobs.
Chris Steadman from Qhotels, who is leading the project for Shakespeare’s England, said: “Working in our sector is often seen as a stop gap or a part-time role and not a real career option.
“We need to address this because we need as much talent as anywhere else. There are some great opportunities for school leavers to develop, grow and be a real success.”
Young people will have a chance to meet potential employers at ‘All Roads Lead to Hospitality Means Business’ being held at Stratford College on June 29. There will also be talks from a number of industry-experts.
Businesses already on board include the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Warwick Castle, Birmingham Airport, QHotels and MacDonald Hotels.
Jo Lloyd, Chair of Shakespeare’s England, added: “This project will shine a light on careers in hospitality.
“Whilst Warwickshire has a very low level of unemployment, we have identified gaps in the hospitality and tourism sector and this will be a major step towards addressing these issues”.
The project has secured a £35,000 from Warwickshire County Council.
Glenn Robinson, Skills for Employment Programme Manager at the county councils, said: “This project is about celebrating a career in tourism and hospitality, spearheaded by industry leaders.
“We are keen to bring employers, schools and colleges together in a meaningful way.”
Shakespeare’s England is the official destination management organisation for Stratford and Warwick.
Visit shakespeares-england.co.uk for further details on the Destination Management Plan. For details on how to book, email [email protected].
