The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has taken part in The Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase 2024, staged in the House of Commons.
British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin (second right) with (left to right) financial secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston MP, Marston’s apprentice Laura, and Robin Walker MP. Photograph: Torrin MacLauchlan
Apprentices shared their stories with industry leaders, and there was a huge turnout of ministers and backbenchers.
The BBPA is calling for urgent reform of the apprenticeship levy, with greater flexibility to utilise this for wider skills development and training.
The sector is committed to growing apprenticeships at all levels but, with 76% of pubs concerned about staffing, broader skills incentives to deliver what pubs and brewers need to grow the workforce requires a more flexible solution.
Kris Gumbrell, chief executive of Brewhouse & Kitchen, said: “At Brewhouse & Kitchen, we’re passionate about the value and importance of apprenticeships, and we were delighted at the opportunity to showcase some of our people and their success in Parliament yesterday.
“Our apprentices are the future of our business and I am proud of the support we give them and the hard work they put in to making Brewhouse & Kitchen the best business it can be.”
Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, said: “It was great to speak at this year’s Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase and to meet so many thriving apprentices. Apprenticeships are a great pathway to fulfilling and successful careers, providing the opportunity to earn while you learn.
“St Austell Brewery is a great example in my constituency, where apprentices can choose from brewing, to sales, to IT to name just a few, training and retraining the future of industry without saddling anyone with debt. The high-quality training and experience on offer in hospitality is second to none.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “Apprenticeships are a phenomenal opportunity for people of all ages to begin a new career path. They’re varied and dynamic, apprentices earn while they learn, and it’s a rare opportunity to excel in the beer and pub sector at speed. We’ve seen apprentices go from the bar to the boardroom over short periods.
“Meeting the apprentice brewers at Brewhouse and Kitchen was a great example of the short path from learning how to brew to seeing your own recipe on tap that apprenticeships provide.
“We will continue to call for greater flexibility in the apprenticeship levy to open more doors for businesses in the beer and pub sector to invest in their staff and the future of our economy through effective training.”
