HOTEL AGENCY ‘OVER THE MOON’ WITH YOUNG APPRENTICE

Tuesday 19 July 2005

The managing director of one of London’s top hotel reservation agencies has sung the praises of an apprenticeship programme for recruiting young trainees.

Ben Smart, managing director of Russell Hotel Reservations, the UK’s fastest growing hotel reservation agency, says school leaver Casey Spraggett, who was introduced to the business by TBG Learning, an independent training provider, has been a huge success. He’s just increased her salary to £12,000 from £7,000 after the probationary first 12 weeks.

“We’re over the moon at how it’s worked out. We’re a colourful, fast paced, twenty-four hour operation and not a normal business in any respect. We wanted to recruit a young person we could develop here – and TBG Learning gave us the platform. We were able to start Casey on a lower salary for twelve weeks whilst we found out whether she was suitable. Casey is very capable and she’s become an important part of our team, checking invoicing and dealing with senior clients. We’re also very supportive of the training she’s getting”, said Ben Smart, Managing Director, Russell Hotel Reservations (part of RHR Group), who have offices in West London, High Wycombe and Derby.

Casey left Bishop Challaner School in Commercial Road, East London, in July 2004, intending to go into hairdressing and with no qualifications.

“I was following the crowd when I went into hair dressing and left after a month. I always wanted to do something with travel and to get this job is a dream. I love it here”, said Casey, who lives in Mile End Road.

Through the Apprenticeship programme Casey gets a visit at work every two weeks from a TBG Learning trainer and assessor who progresses her towards the business administration National Vocational Qualification at level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSE’s). The training includes maths, English and areas such as employment rights and health and safety and is free to the employer because it’s funded through the Government’s Learning and Skills Council, Central London.

TBG Learning works with over eight hundred employers, helping staff to achieve an Apprenticeship or NVQ qualification in areas such as Retail, Hospitality and Catering, Administration and Customer Service. Through its links with the young persons’ advice centres Connexions and with Jobcentre Plus, TBG Learning can also help employers find suitable school leavers or adult recruits.