New training initiative to coax kids into the industry

The hospitality industry is to spearhead a new nationwide, vocational training initiative to be launched in schools this summer.

Mike Tomlinson, head of the Government's exam reform working party, announced at a meeting last week with directors of the Asian and Oriental School of Cookery (AOSC) in London that he would use the hospitality industry to pilot vocational education in secondary schools.

He has requested a further consultation with hospitality employers on 23 February to make recommendations for an outline document. The meeting will follow the launch of an interim report outlining Tomlinson's proposals for a new exam system for 14- to 19-year-olds to be launched on 17 February.

Part of the report will include details of revised vocational options available to schoolchildren and the introduction of "hybrid" GCSEs that will allow students to study either academic or applied tracks.

Damian Nolan, a director of AOSC, said Tomlinson's decision was ground-breaking and a fundamental chance for the industry to solve its ongoing recruitment crisis.

He said: "Mike Tomlinson wants us to bring in as many people as possible to comment on this report. He wants to hear why kids aren't interested in the industry and the problems there are with the current system."

While the changes Tomlinson is proposing will be integrated over 10 years, Nolan has revealed some of the pilot schemes could happen as early as the summer. "We're looking at new qualifications where we can start selling the industry to kids. We need to be routeing people into areas where there is employment," he added.

If you would like to be involved in the consultation, contact Ethlyne Harris at AOSC on 020 7613 9292.