Lewisham College is launching a Hospitality Hub as part of the Mayor of London’s Academies Programme to support Londoners into work by offering free training to help them progress in a career in hospitality and help close the skills gap to aid London’s economic recovery.
As part of the programme, the Lewisham College Hospitality Hub will provide training opportunities, many of which will be free, enabling anyone who is 19 and over and unemployed or in low-income work to access training courses to upskill and gain the knowledge they need to get a job in the hospitality sector.
The College will also work with employers to support their recruitment needs and help them access a skilled workforce. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, launched the new skills programme as part of the London Recovery Plan, offering free training courses to support Londoners into good jobs and help address the growing skills shortage in the capital.
The £44 million programme will support Londoners to get jobs by providing them with flexible work-based training programmes to gain and develop skills for careers in industries that are vital for London’s long-term prosperity.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Many Londoners are facing an unprecedented squeeze on their budgets due to an increase in inflation, energy bills and National Insurance contributions, which are set to go up from April. As Mayor, I won’t sit by while people in our city struggle with the soaring cost of living. That’s why I’m acting now to help Londoners acquire the skills that either allow them to earn more in their current roles or secure better-paying jobs.
“My new flagship skills programme will offer any Londoner who is 19 or over – and who is unemployed or in a low paid job – the chance to access training for free.
“London’s economy is starting to show signs of recovery, but many businesses are crying out for people with the right skills. This new programme will not only ensure Londoners can gain the skills they need to succeed, but support London’s businesses and our economic recovery.”
To find out more about the Hospitality Academy, visit lewisham.ac.uk/hospitalityacademy