Listings - Hospitality and travel

Hospitality and travel

So, what's it all about?

Remember when your parents fed you, cleared up after you, took you wherever you wanted to go, kept you amused and provided you with a roof over your head without ever muttering darkly about chores or rent? Ah, those were the days!

Adults also love to be entertained and looked after - but unfortunately, we usually have to pay someone for the privilege. And that's where the hospitality, travel and tourism industries come in. Think restaurants, catering companies, hotels, pubs, clubs, casinos, holiday parks, visitor attractions, events organisers, travel agencies, tour operators...

These are the people who dished up the 8,641 million meals served by pubs, restaurants and takeaways in the UK last year. They're the ones responsible for looking after the foreign visitors who make 30 million trips a year to these isles. They also helped organise our own foreign holidays: Britons made 66.4m trips abroad in 2005, a new record.

If you hadn't already guessed, this is big business. The various industries in this sector are worth £135bn each year. They employ close on two million people in 182,343 establishments (at the last count). These range from your local kebab shop to the Hilton London Metropole hotel, which has 1,058 rooms, all with 24-hour room service.

And that's just in the UK. Worldwide, the opportunities are limitless. An Apprenticeship in this sector could be your passport to a Caribbean island, a cruise down the Nile or a casino in Monte Carlo.

Don't kid yourself that you'll be lying on the beach all day, though. Jobs in the travel and hospitality industries are hard work, often involving long hours that play havoc with your social life.

Where there's a shortage is in skilled workers looking to build a career in the industry, particularly in managerial roles. Think you've got what it takes to become the hotel manager, the head chef, the chief tour rep or the regional tourism officer? The hospitality industry will welcome you.

What qualities do I need?

be good at dealing with the public (a smile always helps)
be a good team worker
have strong organisational skills
be a good communicator
have numeracy and IT skills (more important if you're working in a travel agency than a kitchen, but you could be surprised)
understand and respect hygiene and health and safety issues
be committed to maintaining high standards
react quickly to solve problems

Vital Statistics

Hours: This is often a sector for long hours and antisocial shifts, although a lot of workers are part-time.

Environment: A busy restaurant, a high-street travel agent and a holiday resort don't have much in common, although in most jobs you'll be dealing directly with the public.

Location: There are jobs all over the country, though particularly in touristy places. Great opportunities to travel, too.

Apprenticeships in this sector

These are the Apprenticeships currently available in this sector. For more information and for details of the Apprenticeship framework, contact the Sector Skills Council listed after each.

Hospitality and catering

Contact www.people1st.co.uk

Travel and Tourism

Contact www.people1st.co.uk

Click here for a list of employers offering Apprenticeships in this sector.