Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the hospitality sector in providing accessible routes into employment, skills development and long-term careers for young people.

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

A central part of the Youth Guarantee is working with employers to create more opportunities for young people. DWP is working with UKHospitality and leading hospitality employers to create more opportunities for young people to enter employment and develop the skills and experience they need to progress in work. Hospitality businesses including Whitbread, McDonald’s, Nando’s, Marriott, Compass, Burger King and Wagamama have committed to providing over 100,000 jobs for 18 to 24-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training by the end of Parliament.

These opportunities will be delivered through direct recruitment and a hospitality training programme providing disadvantaged young people with sector-specific experience, a guaranteed interview and a Hospitality Skills Passport, which certifies that participants have the skills needed to succeed in the sector. Hospitality businesses will also offer learning opportunities through DWP’s work experience programme, providing two to four weeks of hands-on experience with hospitality employers, alongside workplace support and interview experience.

DWP also supports routes into the sector through hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which provide pre-employment training designed to equip jobseekers with the skills needed for hospitality roles, alongside work experience and a guaranteed job interview. In collaboration with UKHospitality, the Destination Hospitality SWAP pilot has been extended to 22 SWAPs in 16 areas across England and Scotland.