Edwardian Hotels London has joined The 5% Club, the employer-led movement focussed on driving momentum into the recruitment of apprentices and graduates. The UK based, privately owned hospitality group brings The Club’s membership to 200. This was celebrated at their flagship hotel, The May Fair Hotel, in central London with their current apprentices.
The hotel group are committed to providing Hospitality Skills training to graduates interested in joining the hospitality industry. Each year the business inducts a minimum of 30 Bachelors graduates to their exciting 18-month programme, where they gain experience across areas of the business including Front Office, Kitchen, Food and Beverage and Housekeeping. This programme has proven very successful in developing future leaders, and as a result Edwardian Hotels London was 10th on the Guardian UK 300: top hospitality, leisure and tourism employers list.
In addition, in late 2015 Edwardian Hotels London became the first hospitality group to collaborate with Imperial College Business School. They pledged a 10-year alliance to create a bespoke development programme which intends to train over 250 of our leaders and managers.
Edwardian Hotels London are also developing an apprentice program for chefs, launching in September 2017. With a growing shortage of skilled chefs joining the industry, this will ensure the highest level of talent are supported in the business’s growing Food and Beverage Excellence Team.
Davinder Gujral, Group HR Director, Edwardian Hotels London, said:
“Employers have a responsibility to invest in skills. By joining The 5% Club we are demonstrating our commitment to developing our staff and young people and joining a community of employers who share our commitment to tackling the skills gap through sustainable investment in skills for the future. For the UK to remain competitive globally, we must develop our domestic workforce to deliver economic growth in our country.”
The 5% Club was launched 3 years ago to drive cross-industry action to tackle the national skills shortage and reduce youth unemployment. Members pledge to strive to achieve a minimum of 5% of their employees in ‘earn and learn’ positions – apprentices, sponsored students and graduate trainees – within 5 years of joining.
Inderneel Singh, Managing Director, The May Fair Hotel, said:
“This is an exciting collaboration for us. We take our recruitment opportunities extremely seriously and graduates and apprentices are a crucial group of people that we want to attract. Edwardian Hotels London is proud to be a business that retains the best talent. As we grow, we want our people to grow with us. We are fortunate to be an independent, family-run hospitality group who has the freedom to develop ideas and concepts from all employees, from all areas of the business. New generations of talent will drive forward our business and we are excited to provide training and experience to propel this.”
Penny Cobham, Director General of The 5% Club, said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Edwardian Hotels London to The 5% Club as our 200th member. With every additional employer who signs The 5% Club charter, we take another step forward in making lifetime skills – and a strong economy – a reality for our young people and help build the British workforce of the future.”
The 5% Club Members vary from FTSE 100 listed-companies to SMEs and operate across a range of different industries.
Notes to editors:
The 5% Club
The 5% Club works with UK employers and key influencers to inspire, educate and retain a growing body of people into “earn and learn” placements in order to increase the number of apprentices, sponsored students and graduates.
The goal of The 5% Club is to increase the employment and career prospects of today’s youth and equip the UK with the skilled workforce it needs to safeguard Britain’s economy.
The 5% Club was launched in 2013.
Members sign The 5% Club charter. As a member of The 5% Club employers state they are:
• Committed to helping the UK’s growth agenda and acknowledge the importance of developing people as both a business and social imperative
• Playing their part in addressing youth unemployment and skills shortage
• Pledging to work towards having a minimum 5% of their UK workforce enrolled on formalised apprentice, sponsored student and/or graduate development schemes within five years
• Measuring and reporting on their progress annually against the above metric in their Corporate Social Responsibility section of the Annual Report and Accounts or equivalent document
• Committed to encouraging other employers to participate in the campaign.
Edwardian Hotels London
Edwardian Hotels London is a privately-owned hotel group, which has been operating and developing an upscale and luxury hotel and hospitality portfolio since Jasminder Singh OBE began his career within the hospitality industry in 1977; forming the beginnings of what would become Edwardian Hotels London. Today, Edwardian Hotels London owns and operates 11 Radisson Blu Edwardian, London hotels in London and central Manchester, The May Fair Hotel and a collection of restaurant and bar brands, including the May Fair Kitchen, Monmouth Kitchen and May Fair Bar. EHL are also engaged in a major development in Leicester Square, incorporating a luxury lifestyle hotel, restaurants, bars, spa and cinemas.
Edwardian Hotels London has been awarded Superbrand status in 2017. Due to the brand’s entrepreneurial spirit and ‘Yes I Can’ Service philosophy, they join the list of the UK’s strongest consumer and business brands.
For more information visit our website at www.edwardian.com.
The May Fair Hotel, London
The luxury May Fair Hotel is in the heart of London’s most stylish district. The hotel, which was opened by King George V in 1927, boasts more than 400 luxury bedrooms, including 40 suites; set alongside the relaxing May Fair Spa; the chic, Mediterranean tapas restaurant, May Fair Kitchen; a 201-seat private screening room, The May Fair Theatre and the exclusive Palm Beach Casino. The residence encapsulates its Mayfair locality throughout, with the intimate Terrace and Private Dining Room; The May Fair Bar offering an array of signature cocktails; the breathtaking Crystal Room; and the decadent Danziger Suite.
