THE Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants Group is launching an in-house training academy leading to Level 2 Apprenticeship qualification.

Responding to the pandemic, which has seen resistance to entering the hospitality industry, the Devonshire Hospitality Academy offers a chance to gain qualifications via the traditional college route system and the guarantee of promotion to a permanent full-time role, upon successful completion of the course.

Places will be awarded to staff starting fulltime hospitality roles at all businesses in the Group’s portfolio, across both the Bolton Abbey and Chatsworth estates, owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

The initiative complements a wider review taking place at the Devonshire Group, on areas such as working patterns, unsociable hours, work pressure and rates of pay. The focus on work/life balance and staff wellbeing follows other developments in recent years, including the introduction of a four-day week, with no split-shifts, for chefs.

Richard Palmer, managing director of The Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants Group, said: “This is a particularly exciting project for me, and the hospitality industry. The key message from me is that this is an invitation to gain invaluable life skills, which are transferable to many aspects of the hospitality industry, and beyond. For example, I know ex chefs who are now hotel managers, working as Head of Innovation, and MDs of foodservice companies. This grassroots approach is a viable alternative to the traditional college route.

“I relate to this with personal experience, having started out my own career as a bar attendant at The Devonshire Brasserie. By age 21, I was managing a £1m turnover business and 25 staff, and by my mid-30s I became the Group’s MD.

“There are now a wealth of opportunities for people from all walks of life, who are ready to apply themselves and are eager to learn and develop. For those wanting to go to the top, we offer training right through to MBA level.”

Added Mr Palmer: “The challenges of recent times have presented us all with a chance to look at things afresh, and seek more fulfilment from our working lives, and appreciate that there has never been a better time to learn new skills and join this dynamic industry. For those of us already established in our careers, now is the time to give others the benefit of our experience and share our passion.”

Programme content for the 18-month long academy will be delivered via workshops, covering topics such as the customer dining experience, foraging on the Estate, a day with a supplier, and knife skills.

Another initiative taken by The Devonshire Group is the creation of 33 six-month placements under the Government’s Kickstart scheme funding jobs for young people aged 16-24 receiving Universal Credit. Placements on both estates include gardeners, farmyard and adventure playground assistants, a dry stone waller and commis chef.

* Visit devonshirehotels.co.uk/academy. For Kickstart details visit .kickstart.campaign.gov.uk