Britain’s countryside boring?

Research by Travelodge encompassing over 3000 Brits think that visiting the countryside is boring.

In the survey of 3,000 Brits, 53% of adults said there was nothing to see or do in Britain’s countryside. Even a fifth of British children find nature’s playground unexciting. The study also tested the respondents’ knowledge of the Countryside Code and revealed:

• Only 17% of adults admitted they knew the British Countryside Code.
• 24% thought they had the right to pick wild flowers in the countryside (which they don’t).
• 10% thought it was safe to eat all berries and fungus they found growing in the countryside
• 32% had difficulty identifying a pheasant
• 22% could not identify a hare. One in 10 adults thought it was a deer
• 12% of adults thought a stag was a reindeer (Oh deer!)
• 10% could not identify a sheep
• 42% could not identify an otter
• 20% could not identify a weasel
• 83% could not identify the common Bluebell flower
• 44% could not identify the popular oak tree
• 74% could not identify a horse chestnut tree
• 71% could not identify a pine tree

Future Chefs offer Back to the Kitchen Experience

6.30PM - 11.30PM
THE CUMBERLAND HOTEL,
GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE, MARBLE ARCH,
LONDON W1A 4RF

Four talented and aspiring young chefs have been selected from the renowned FutureChef programme to literally go 'Back to the Kitchen!'

Each fantastic young chef will prepare one course for your enjoyment in this fabulous four-course banquet, led by Restaurant Associates Executive Chef, Andy Aston and his team of Compass Group chef mentor chefs.

The Back To The Kitchen dinner is a celebration of these aspiring young chefs and the future talent of the industry - and is also a wonderful dining experience and industry networking opportunity

Book your tickets today by contacting Carla Dillon at Springboard on:
T: 0207 4978654 / 0783 7566789 or E: carlad@springboarduk.org.uk
Tickets are: £70 each (plus VAT) £700 table of 10 (plus VAT)

National Skills Academy Endorses Best!

Press Release

National Skills Academy for Hospitality ENDORSES BEST QUALITY Hospitality Training Programmes

- up to 1m vacancies in hospitality industry in next 12 months

The National Skills Academy for Hospitality is endorsing a series of training programmes which will enable young people to choose the highest-quality training programmes being offered by the industry. The programmes will give people the best opportunity to acquire the necessary skills for a long-term career in one of the UK’s most important industries.

In spite of the recession, hospitality employers will recruit an estimated 1m people in the next 12 months to fill vacancies created by seasonal demand, people retiring and those leaving the industry. The programmes will particularly help fill skills shortages in management and leadership, customer service and chefs.

In identifying, endorsing and promoting the best hospitality training programmes, the Academy aims to create a brand that learners, parents and employers can trust as the benchmark for excellence in hospitality training. Companies and educational establishments whose training programmes receive the Academy’s seal of approval will benefit from high profile recognition, marketing and funding support.

The Academy’s first suite of approved training courses covers advanced apprenticeships, diplomas in professional cookery, the Compass Junior Chefs Academy and chef master classes. National Skills Academy status for an employer, educational establishment or training provider identifies excellence in both content and delivery.

Bob Cotton, chairman of the National Skills Academy for Hospitality, says that hospitality is a sector that has enjoyed phenomenal growth and is one of the few industries still continuing to grow and recruit in the recession. Career prospects in the industry were second-to-none but the need for skilled staff was ‘very strong’.

“Between 750,000 and 1m people are set to be recruited in the sector in the coming 12 months,” he said. “The Academy is creating national benchmarks in hospitality training so that these recruits and existing team members can take advantage of the best programmes in the industry.”

David McHattie, the Academy’s chief executive, said that further qualifications and courses whether within companies, colleges or training providers would be assessed and approved.

“They will reap the reward of being recognised as excellent,” he said.

“By developing our application and approval system for programmes, and with our access to funding opportunities, we aim to define the benchmark for excellence in hospitality training. Shining a light on the excellence found and increasing the availability of these programmes will not only raise the standards of training throughout the hospitality industry but enhance our reputation with the talent of the future.”

- Ends –

Notes to Editors:

The first suite of programmes approved and recognised by the Academy are:

New Advanced Apprenticeship: In partnership with Living Ventures, the North West-based restaurant group, the National Skills Academy has developed the new Advanced Apprenticeship Management Development programme. The programme to be offered by Living Ventures provides the opportunity for newcomers in the industry to develop the right skills, product knowledge and financial acumen to run a successful pub restaurant or bar. The company’s programme, which will be nationally recognised, defines a new benchmark for apprenticeships. Living Ventures receives government funding to support the programme, which the Academy hopes will be replicated by other companies.

Diplomas in Professional Cookery: Diplomas in Professional Cookery build on all that was valued about the City and Guilds 706 suite of qualifications. The first colleges acknowledged by the Academy to be setting a new standard of delivery in chef qualifications will be announced at the forthcoming PACE Conference.

By promoting these excellent colleges the Academy believes it will be able to endorse other colleges delivering this high quality qualification and so raise the standard of cookery training throughout the country.

Junior Chefs Academy: This 10-week Saturday morning college programme offered by Compass Group gives 14-16 year olds the opportunity to learn basic cooking skills. 1,800 people have already been on the programme and 68 per cent have gone on to formal chef training. With the support of the North West Regional Development Agency, the Academy is launching the Compass Junior Chefs Academy in three new colleges with three programmes each – 144 places in total. All the places have been taken up and the Academy plans to approve more colleges to deliver this excellent programme in Kendall, south Trafford and Accrington

Chef Master Classes: The Academy is endorsing a series of master classes which allow students, chefs and food enthusiasts the opportunity to top up their skills. The first will be run by Cyrus Todiwala at his restaurant, Café Spice Namasté. Others are currently being planned.

For more information, please contact:

Felicity Callaghan or Debbie Spitz on 020 7 260 2700

Or visit www.excellencefound.co.uk for more information

Telegraph celebrates focus on Excellence

National Skills Academies became the focus of a special report in the business section of The Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

The report highlights some of the successes and celebrates the benefits of the focus on excellence.

Excellent coverage for the National Skills Academy for Hospitality which cetainly helps with our initial task of building awareness and understanding of the role we play.

Missed the Telegraph on thursday read it here.

Travelodge snaps up 1,443 new rooms

Travelodge, the Budget hotel group has snapped up 12 new hotels worth £77m, as landlords look to sell on sites as the recession hits home.
 

The properties boost the Travelodge estate by 1,443 rooms and will create 200 new jobs. 
 

Travelodge also expect that all entry-level staff will be recruited through JobCentre Plus.