BLACKPOOL TOURISM ACADEMY What is it? Exciting new skills - PDF document

BLACKPOOL TOURISM ACADEMY

What is it? Exciting new skills partnership for Blackpool’s visitor economy Address skills gaps in the year round and seasonal workforce of founding Academy employers (and wider businesses) Pioneer the design and testing of a new tourism apprenticeship framework Blackpool resort to become a WorldHost destination A 3 year £2m investment project - £1m awarded from the government’s Employer Ownership Pilot (EOP)

Key Partners Founding Academy Employers Blackpool Pleasure Beach (lead bidder)  Merlin Entertainments  Sandcastle Waterpark  Cuerden Leisure Ltd  Blackpool Zoo  Blackpool Transport Services Ltd 

Supported By Blackpool Council (Economic Development ) Accountable body for public funds to SFA/BIS/UKCES  Project management support  Blackpool & Fylde College Apprenticeship design & delivery + other training  People 1 st (WorldHost customer service training) Visit Blackpool (promoting WorldHost roll-out & benefits)

Skills Gaps Industry Product knowledge Customer service (selling the resort) First line supervisory Functional skills (literacy/numeracy) Catering/chef Management skills (recruitment/growing your own) IT skills Some engineering/technical skills Commercial awareness & Basic health & safety, food sales (within the business) hygiene, security, etc

BTA Skills Progression Model

Key Outcomes New Skills Academy – several employers collectively planning & delivering skills provision New apprenticeship framework: funding for 113 apprentices (L2/L3) 30 in-house trainers – WorldHost accredited; WH trainer recruited Over 3,700 subsidised WorldHost training places (1,300 BTA in- house) BTA: 847 additional accredited qualifications (from L2….L5) BTA: 380 bespoke training places – selling techniques, gaming awareness

WorldHost Recognition Awards: Business Recognition : • 50%+ of customer facing staff within a business need to have completed any WorldHost training. Destination Recognition: • 25%+ of service reliant business within an agreed catchment area must have achieved Business Recognition to trigger Destination Recognition.

Tourism specific stories

Key Opportunities WorldHost trainer training – trainer places available at low cost WorldHost roll-out – heavily subsidised – get your business WorldHost recognised help the resort gain WorldHost destination New apprenticeship framework: 91 of the 113 allocated to BTA employers but remainder will become available as the framework is established and tested Your ideas to develop the Tourism Academy further – e.g. other business support measures

INITIAL CONTACT Peter Legg Head of Economic Development Blackpool Council 01253 477320 peter.legg@blackpool.gov.uk