There has never been a better time to get involved in the hospitality industry.

That's the message from a new training partnership between City College Brighton and Hove, Northbrook College, Worthing, and the national Hotel and Catering Training Company (HCTC), which has an office in Haywards Heath.

The initiative has been awarded Centre of Vocational Excellence (Cove) status by the Sussex Learning and Skills Council because of its high standard of training.

Mike Eaton, the Cove's project manager, said: "Our remit is to promote the hospitality industry and there are different strands to this.

"We want to find out what skills and experience employers need and encourage them to upskill existing workers.

"Many employers don't realise training can take place at work and not just at college or that they can get Government funding for training."

The Cove will also encourage employers to consider applicants from all walks of life.

He said: "We estimate more than 50 per cent of Brighton and Hove's working population will, in one way or another, be employed in the hospitality industry within the next few years.

"Employers should be more inclusive and consider hiring the long-term unemployed, people who haven't necessarily done well at school or people who've had other problems in the past."

Mr Eaton said the partnership was also raising awareness of the hospitality industry with in the job market.

He said: "The jobs are there - the problem is getting qualified and trained people and that's what we're doing.

"The good news for employees is there's a huge shortage of staff and if they want to progress quickly to supervisory roles there are probably more opportunities in hospitality than in any other."

There had been a good response to the scheme so far. The centre is running a pilot project for 16 to 19-year-olds to provide a ten-week work "taster" that could lead to jobs.

It is starting a bakery course at Northbrook College and is working with City College to set up the Brighton and Hove Centre of Asian and Oriental Cuisine, which should be in place by the beginning of next year.

Mr Eaton said: "This centre will be aimed at people working in the industry. The problem is they don't get the chance to do the training to help them advance."

The Cove's aim was to get as many people as possible studying for NVQ level 3.

He said: "The project will raise awareness of the hospitality industry to those outside it and awareness of training opportunities to those on the inside it."

Thursday July 17, 2003