English tourism main jobs driver since recession
Tourism was the biggest driver of jobs in England since the recession, according to research commissioned by tourist board VisitEngland and published during English Tourism Week.
The study, carried out by the Office for National Statistics, revealed that the number of people working in tourism industries in England rose by 6%, equating to 153,000 jobs, between September 2009 and September 2013. The number of people working in other industries grew by just 3% over the same period.
Tourism in England is worth £106b and employs 2.6 million people and, according to sector skills organisation People 1st, tourism and the visitor economy is one of the largest employers of apprentices. Figures from 2012-13 show there were around 65,000 apprenticeships in this employment sector.
London Mayor Boris Johnson teamed up with the British Hospitality Association earlier this month to announce 7,000 new apprenticeship positions in the catering industry for the city.
VisitEngland chair Lady Cobham said: "English Tourism Week is the ideal time to raise the profile of how important tourism is in stimulating new jobs in this country and providing exciting and challenging career opportunities for people of all ages.
"I'm delighted that VisitEngland has teamed up today with a number of apprentices from Hilton Worldwide to celebrate English Tourism Week in central London, to help raise the profile of the breadth and quality of opportunities available in the industry."
Hilton Worldwide's National Apprenticeship Academy has had more than 200 participants to date train with the company through one of seven 12-month apprenticeships since 2012. The Academy's entry-level education in hospitality includes on-the-job training from professionally qualified experts, development workshops and master classes.
Minister for Tourism Helen Grant added: "Working in the tourism sector can offer a rewarding, challenging and fulfilling career. The industry is playing a key part in the Government's economic growth strategy and English Tourism Week is the perfect time to highlight the career paths available and what companies like Hilton are doing to help the sector go from strength to strength."
