A cohort of hospitality apprentices has been welcomed into a brand-new Early Careers Programme created by Crerar Hotel Group, the AA’s Small Hotel Group of the Year.
Aiming to boost the number of young people choosing to work in the sector, Crerar has given 18 candidates, aged 16 to 24, the opportunity to complete a two-year course which will see them achieve up to a SCQF Level 8 qualification.
This new initiative from the Crerar Hotels Academy, which features a Future Hotelier Apprenticeship and Culinary Apprenticeship, offers young people on-the-job training and experience, and the chance to learn the skills that form the foundation of a successful career in hospitality.
Director of learning & development at Crerar Hotel Group, Laura Dunphy, said: “We are thrilled to launch our new Early Careers Programme, which represents our commitment to nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders.
“These apprenticeships offer a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain hands-on experience and industry-recognised qualifications, setting them on the path to a rewarding career with us and is just the first step in driving this new scheme forward.
“This programme is a fantastic opportunity for young people who are passionate about hospitality to gain the skills and experience they need to thrive in this exciting industry,” said Dunphy.
“They’ll be working alongside experienced professionals in a supportive environment, and by the end of the two years, they’ll be well-positioned for successful careers within the Crerar Hotel Group.”
The first cohort of apprentices has already spent two days at Dunkeld House Hotel, where they learned about their future career paths and participated in team building activities alongside Crerar CEO Chris Wayne-Wills, and Dunkeld general manager Hervé Bernier.
Wayne-Wills said: “Crerar Hotels is continuing to pave the way with industry leading training initiatives, and our brand-new Early Careers Programme is no exception.
“Through our Crerar Hotels Academy, we have produced a wealth of homegrown talent through successful apprenticeship programmes – in fact, we recently celebrated the promotion of apprenticeship graduate Aedan Doig from duty manager to restaurant manager at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa.
“Aedan joins a long list of candidates who have successfully paved careers with the Crerar Hotel Group, which also includes Chris Chew, hotel manager at the Glencoe Inn and Claire Gardner, deputy general manager at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa,” said the CEO.
“I’m excited to watch our team grow and can’t wait to support the journeys of each of our new apprentices through the exciting early stages of their careers.”
Crerar Hotels is currently recruiting for a number of vacancies across its portfolio of luxury four- and five-star hotels and inns, via www.careers.crerarhotels.com.
