Developing the right skills for you, your business, and your staff

It is important that people who visit Wales enjoy themselves whilst they are here. If our visitors have a good time in Wales then they are more likely to return and recommend us to others. People are our most important asset in helping make this happen.

There are many resources available to help you develop the right skills for you and your staff.

The Tourism, Hospitality and Events sector is diverse. It encompasses many elements of different sub-sectors including accommodation and food services activities, such as:

• hotels and other accommodation
• restaurants
• beverage and event catering services
• outdoor adventure activities 
• visitor attractions.

Visit Wales Campaign: Working in Tourism and Hospitality

Visit Wales Campaign: Toolkit and assets

Posting job vacancies and recruiting

An industry led skills partnership

Skills, Recruitment and Training Support for Businesses

Since August 2021 Visit Wales has been running a campaign to encourage more people to work in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The campaign focuses on highlighting vacancies in the sector, amid increased customer demand and more people choosing domestic holiday destinations this summer.

It also covers personal development opportunities and potential career paths in roles such as

• front of house
• chefs
• housekeeping 
• supervisory and management roles

The campaign is being run in partnership with Working Wales – the Welsh Government’s employability gateway, for those aged 16 and over. It provides a tailored, impartial and inclusive advice and coaching service, supporting access to employment and training to help further careers and improve wellbeing.

For full details visit the Working Wales website.  More case studies and films will be available in the coming months.

As part of the campaign, assets and a new toolkit are now available. The toolkit is available to

• help stakeholders with recruiting staff 
• raise awareness of the great career opportunities in tourism and hospitality

Support the campaign by keeping an eye out on social media and using #TheExperienceMakers. For full details of the campaign visit the Working Wales website.  

The following information is not exhaustive – if your local college is not listed please contact them direct for information.

Recruiting resources, initiatives and opportunities

Find your local colleges and training providers that can help advertise job vacancies and some information about local initiatives and campaigns being run.

Colleges/training providers

• Grwp Llandrillo Menai includes Coleg LLandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion Dwyfor and delivers courses across Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd. Businesses with vacancies can complete the Employer Vacancies Form and submit it to employerjobs@gllm.ac.uk - the vacancies will be posted on the college website and highlighted to students.
• Coleg y Cymoedd has campuses in Aberdare, Nantgarw, Rhondda (Llwynypia) and Ystrad Mynach. More information is available on the Coleg y Cymoedd. To discuss your vacancies please contact the Employment bureau team on 01443663229/07971341251 or email Futures@Cymoedd.ac.uk.
• Bridgend College can discuss a variety of methods for supporting with recruitment for businesses of any size across South Wales. More information can be found through cyfleoedd.co.uk and contacting Steve Jones - Cyfleoedd@bridgend.ac.uk or 01656 302302 ext 184
• Coleg Cambria has six sites delivering courses across North East Wales. Business can find out how to advertise vacancies on the online Job Shop. Information is also available on offering work experience to students.
• Coleg Sir Gar campuses span Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion and businesses can advertise job roles across all campuses. If you would like more information please contact Filipe Nunes,  Filipe.Nunes@colegsirgar.ac.uk or 07468 470 245.
• Advertise opportunities at Cardiff Metropolitan University - You can advertise vacancies with students directly via the Cardiff Met internal job site, MetHub. To advertise a role to students please register and create an account. Your account will be approved in 2-3 business days and, once approved, you can upload jobs instantly. Register with MetHub online.  Further help is available from careers@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
• Cambrian Training Company delivers work-based apprenticeship training across the whole of Wales and specialises in supporting businesses in the Hospitality & Tourism sector. Their team will discuss your business needs and the funding available to recruit and train staff, help to advertise & recruit an apprentice free of charge and deliver high quality apprenticeship training: Their apprenticeship job vacancies are advertised on their website, apprenticeship vacancy national service and their social media. To find out more, contact the Cambrian Training team.

We will continue to collate and share this type of information via the newsletter, in the meantime please contact your local college (during term time) or training provider to see if they can help with advertising your vacancies.

In September 2019, following extensive stakeholder engagement, an industry led skills partnership was formed, an independent Chair was appointed, with Visit Wales providing secretariat services. The partnership meets quarterly.

The aim of the Partnership is:

• to gather evidence based information and industry views 
• to identify issues and concerns around people and skills shortages
• to propose solutions to sector stakeholders, for example Welsh Government, Regional Learning and Skills Partnerships 
• to disseminate information to the sector on recruitment, training provision, funding, best practice etc.

The Partnership’s role is: 

• to provide leadership and direction for the tourism and hospitality industry in Wales in relation to skills issues
• to encourage the sharing of information and to propose solutions to address concerns
• to consider strategic priorities identified by stakeholders 
• to advise on implementation and the resources necessary to deliver strategic outcomes
• to provide direction on improving the skill base in the sector, attracting new entrants and retaining skills professionals.

For more information on the partnership, please contact Kerry.Thatcher@gov.wales.