Hospitality and catering college to open at Liverpool's Hugh Baird

Hugh Baird College in Bootle, Liverpool, with its focus on hospitality and catering, will become one of the first two Career Colleges for 14-19 years old.

It has been announced that along with Oldham College in Greater Manchester, specialising in creative and digital arts, it has been given the go-ahead to open its door to students in September 2014.

Career Colleges, launched by Lord Baker last year, are a new innovation in employer-led education. They take advantage of the government's decision to allow further education colleges to recruit at 14, increasing the range of study opportunities for 14-19 year olds. They will provide the opportunity to combine academic and vocational studies within a specific industry and so improve career prospects for young people.

All Career Colleges have strong support from local industry. At Hugh Baird College, Adam Franklin, chef proprietor at the Yacht Club Liverpool, has helped to create the hospitality offer. He said the college will help address a skills shortage that has been identified by Liverpool's Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in Liverpool's Visitor Economy.

"People like to learn in different ways and school isn't for everyone, some young people who are disengaged with school often thrive when they learn to make something with their hands, and the earlier they can get the chance to do this the better," explained Franklin.

"Liverpool's Visitor Economy continues to go from strength to strength. 56 million visitors are attracted to the city each year and they spend £3.4b in the local economy which supports 46,000 jobs. So there will be hospitality jobs available to young people.

"However, these young people must have the right work ethic and the skills needed to hit the ground running when industry comes calling. The Career College at Hugh Baird will help ensure this is the case and promises to give those with a passion for hospitality the opportunity to embark on an exciting and limitless career in the hospitality industry."

Luke Johnson, chairman of the Career Colleges Trust, added: "Career Colleges provide young people with the opportunity to develop life-skills and gain practical experience within a specific industry - alongside a rigorous academic education. This is essential in today's world, where we see so many skills gaps, yet still suffer from high youth unemployment."

Hugh Baird's Career College already filled its Year 10 cohort for this coming September.

There are plans for around 40 Career Colleges to open within the next four years, providing opportunities for 25,000 young people.