New employment analysis released this week shows tourism to be the major driver of jobs in the UK since the recession. The work, commissioned by VisitEngland the national tourist board and carried out by the Office for National Statistics shows that between September 2009 and September 2013 the number of people working in tourism industries in England rose by 6% equating to 153,000 jobs. Over the same period, the number of people working in other industries grew by just 3%.
Tourism in England is worth £106billion and employs 2.6million people - it is a key employer in this country and an engine for growth. According to People 1st, which promotes and supports skills and workforce development, tourism and the visitor economy is one of the largest employers of apprentices. Figures from 2012-13 show approximately 65,000 apprenticeships in this important employment sector.
Earlier on this month London Mayor, Boris Johnson, teamed up with the British Hospitality Association to announce 7,000 new apprenticeship positions in the catering industry for the city.
Global hospitality company Hilton Worldwide's National Apprenticeship Academy has already seen more than 200 participants to date train with the company through one of seven 12-month apprenticeships since 2012, including food & beverage, professional cookery, front desk and health & fitness. The Academy's entry-level education to the world of hospitality includes on-the-job training from professionally qualified experts, development workshops and master classes.
English Tourism Week runs from 29 March - 6 April to celebrate tourism in England. The industry-wide initiative run by the national tourist board, VisitEngland, is designed to shine a light on the importance of tourism in England - an industry worth £106bn a year to England, supporting 2.6million jobs.