FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Contract caterer, Elior, has committed to donate £480,000 of its Apprenticeship Levy to fund apprenticeships in hospitality, healthcare and education over the next three years.
Elior will collaborate with Total People – part of the LTE Group – locating and appointing apprentices across its portfolio. The first £100,000 of funding has already been released for Total People to allocate across its extensive network of UK SMEs, with a number of recipients already identified to receive funds to support apprenticeships in the care and hospitality sectors.
Elior’s pledge will not only help to strengthen the future of smaller organisations within its chosen sectors but will also provide progression and upskilling opportunities for its workforce.
Justin Johnson, HR Director at Elior UK said: “The hospitality industry suffered a real blow as a result of the pandemic. We’re keen to help kickstart growth, providing work opportunities in organisations where they’re most needed.
“Working closely alongside clients in education and healthcare, we’ve witnessed first-hand the challenges these immensely valuable sectors have overcome over the last few years. It’s an honour to be able to invest in their regeneration moving forwards.”
Beckie Holmes, Total People Levy Gifting Manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Elior has come on board as one of our gifting partners. Elior’s fantastic pledge against the Education, Health and Social Care and Hospitality sectors will have a huge impact on SME’s who can use these funds to upskill or grow their existing workforce through apprenticeships.”
Amongst many other local businesses, the funds will support the Little Tap Restaurant and Bar in Cheshire helping support growth again after the pandemic.
Myles Carr, Business Owner, Little Tap Restaurant and Bar, Cheshire, said: “Working alongside Total People enabled me to access Elior’s funding, which was very beneficial after a difficult time for the hospitality industry.
“Elior’s gifted funds will have helped a huge amount of businesses that have survived the pandemic and want to grow. It really has helped me to focus on my team and give them a strong future working with my company.”
Informa, the organisers of Facilities Show, together with FMJ magazine, have teamed up to launch a questionnaire which aims to offer a useful snapshot of where the facilities management sector is now, and an outlook on the future.
For instance, are you asking workers to begin to return to the office with a hybrid home/office work schedule? Are you revising your premises to enable more flexible ways of working and as such have your workplace strategies, including sustainability, wellbeing and engagement had to be radically rethought?
Your anonymised answers will contribute to a report on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing facilities managers; now, and anticipated in the next 12 months.
To take part click here.
