Whitbread announces new national College partnerships Helping young people with additional needs thrive

HOSPITALITY company Whitbread today reveals brand new National Further Education College Partnerships to help young people with additional needs learn new skills and get into work.

The Premier Inn owner is delighted to reveal it is partnering with The Liverpool City Region and Lincolnshire County Council as part of its Thrive programme. Thrive is an acceleration of its longstanding work with Derwen and Hereward specialist Colleges supporting young people with special educational needs and learning disabilities.

The new partnerships will help scores of young learners nation wide and puts Whitbread firmly on the path to achieving its ambition to get 100 supported interns into paid employment from special needs educational establishments every year.

In the Liverpool City Region, the partnership will eventually support 6 local authorities, including:- The Wirral, City of Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Halton. Liverpool City College and Wirral MET College will be the initial educational partners.

In Lincolnshire the partnership will support the Council's Young People's Learning Provision, which works with schools across the county.

The partnerships will see students learning about all areas of hospitality through work experience and supported internships under the guidance of their job coaches with the chance to move into paid employment with Premier Inn. Skills include:- different aspects of working in hotels from guest relations and housekeeping; which also support the students to live independent lives and enhance their social skills and confidence, including:- by working on curriculum and being part of the Premier Inn team.

Fittingly, the announcement was revealed at existing partner Hereward College, in Coventry, as 4 hospitality students celebrated their graduation as interns, with permanent employment secured with Premier Inn. It is the success of this existing partnership; and Derwen College, based in Oswestry; that has inspired the acceleration of the scheme.

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Simon Ewins, Premier Inn Managing Director UK Hotels and Restaurants said:- "Our longstanding partnerships with Derwen and Hereward Colleges; and the young people we've come to know through them; are an enormous source of pride for all at Whitbread. Thanks to their success, we are absolutely thrilled to reveal new partnerships with Colleges and local authorities that will support young learners with additional needs from all over the country. Our hotel teams are absolutely raring to welcome the new learners into sites across the North West and Lincolnshire.”

Councillor Lila Bennett, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said:- "Having a diverse workforce with people of all backgrounds and disabilities enriches the culture of an organisation and can be life changing for all involved. I hope Whitbread will inspire other organisations to take part. The scheme is a key part of our ambition to tackle inequality and maximise the life chances for residents in our City.”

Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children's services at Lincolnshire County Council, said:- "We want to help all local children get a good start in life. This new partnership will provide our learners with valuable work experience and provide a route into employment, helping them develop their independence. We're very grateful to Whitbread for offering this wonderful opportunity and look forward to seeing the real difference it will make to our learners' lives.”

Gill Banks, Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College said:- "We are thrilled to join forces with Whitbread in this invaluable initiative that aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting young people with additional needs. At Wirral Met College, we believe in empowering all our students to achieve their full potential, and this partnership with Premier Inn offers them a fantastic opportunity to gain vital skills and real-world experience in the hospitality industry. Together, we are opening doors to meaningful employment and building confidence in our students. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this collaboration will have on our community."

Thrive is part of Whitbread's Force for Good commitment to help people live and work well.

As an inclusive employer Whitbread is committed to supporting all its colleagues, including:- those from under represented groups such as those with disabilities, people who are ethnically diverse and those who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, trans sexual, non-binary or use another term.

If you are an educational institution or local authority and are interested in exploring this opportunity, find out more and submit an expression of interest via the Thrive page of the Whitbread website. Thrive Programme; Whitbread PLC

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