Young people in Warwickshire are being introduced to employment and career opportunities with rural hospitality businesses by a new county-wide programme.
WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) is working with Warwickshire Skills Hub to help promote opportunities with rural businesses through the ‘Let’s Go Rural’ initiative.
The initiative – backed by the Community Renewal Fund - sees young people taken on a rural tour of Warwickshire, with visits to colleges and businesses, along with interactive sessions to discuss career opportunities.
The first Let’s Go Rural tour has been held and saw 14 students visit Moreton Morrell College, before heading to Number 34 Garden and Grill Restaurant in Warwick.
The sessions at the restaurant involved a presentation and discussion around the relationships between farming and hospitality, and the potential careers in the sector.
Students also took part in an interactive session on employability with Career Seekers.
WCG will be running three more ‘Let’s Go Rural’ days in the coming months, with tours scheduled for June, September and October.
The initiative is aiming to reach at least 200 young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Let’s Go Rural helps the young people to identify the skills and qualifications they will need to work in the industry and the pathways to get into careers, for example with industry placements and apprenticeships.
It will also work with businesses to help better understand the barriers they face with employment and growth, and advise on how to navigate those challenges.
John Colclough, Business Development Manager at WCG, said: “Staff recruitment and retention is a growing challenge across the hospitality industry, and that issue is even more prevalent amongst hospitality businesses in rural areas.
“WCG is delighted to have partnered with Warwickshire Skills Hub, through Warwickshire County Council, to deliver this initiative and open the eyes of young people to the career opportunities available with these businesses.
“It’s all about showing that there opportunities out there in hospitality and that is the message we shared with the young people on our first Let’s Go Rural tour.
“We’ll be working with a wide range of businesses during the project and it was great to kick off with a visit to Number 34 Garden and Grill.
“Our apprenticeships team works with a wide range of rural businesses, including those in hospitality, and there is a clear demand in the sector. We hope that the programme will inspire those who take part to look into apprenticeships and pursue a career with a rural hospitality business.”
Cllr Martin Watson, portfolio holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, added: "The Let's Go Rural programme is all about connecting people - bringing together businesses which need to recruit with young people looking to embark on a career.
"With the fantastic support of WCG and the business and education-providers, this is an exciting initiative which could make a real difference to the rural economy and the lives of some young people around the county."
To find out more about Let’s Go Rural and to sign-up for the programme click here.
PICTURE CAPTION: Students on the inaugural WCG Let’s Go Rural tour.