Manpower Skills Festival starts recruitment drive

A £400,000, one-year campaign has been launched to attract people into the catering profession.

The drive will be part of the Manpower Skills Festival, comprising 12 months of events around the country, and the five-day National Skills Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

The hospitality industry will be just one of 30 to 40 trades involved.

Hospitality and Leisure Manpower (HLM), which organises competitions for the catering industry, will manage the hospitality activities. Its managing director, David Battersby, is trying to raise £400,000 in cash and loans of equipment.

The hospitality section at the show will include competitions, demonstrations and chances for the public to "have a go".

The Manpower National Skills Show, which is supported by the Prince's Trust, Education Secretary David Blunkett and Caterer & Hotelkeeper, takes place on 5-9 July. For further information call Cayetana on 020 8977 4419.