The scheme is a fast-track route into management and provides A-level students (18+) with an alternative to going to university. On this programme, school leavers can continue their education, obtain work experience, receive a salary and become a manager by the age of 21.
It was developed to support Travelodge's growth strategy to have 1,000 hotels by 2020. It is supporting the Chancellor's appeal for British companies to generate more high-value apprenticeship placements, in a bid to help the one million out-of-work youngsters into employment.
Travelodge is kick-starting its 2012 apprenticeship recruitment early, as it has also announced today that it has exchanged on 44 new properties this year which are scheduled to open over the next two years. It is targeting a further 146 new sites across the UK. To fuel this development, the JuMP programme will provide a pipeline of management talent to manage the new Travelodge hotels.
From the 120 apprenticeships, Travelodge is looking to attract 45 candidates over the Christmas period, ready to start in April 2012; the remaining 75 places will be recruited in autumn 2012
Michelle Luxford, Travelodge HR director, said: "Our programme has got off to a fantastic start. We were overwhelmed by the response we received when we launched the scheme in April this year and it is so rewarding to see our first apprentices develop into our business. I anticipate demand is going to be very high again for our 120 places.
"The prime minister has earmarked UK tourism as one of the six strategic industries to drive economic recovery. The budget hotel sector is the engine room of the hotel industry and Travelodge is the power brand of the UK hotel sector. Therefore the potential for today's youth to revolutionise one of Britain's powerhouse industries is phenomenal. I am hoping we will find our future business leaders from JuMP.
"Our nationwide programme offers school leavers an alternative career choice to going to university. The fast-track management programme provides a real job, with the opportunity of on-the-job training throughout the business, combined with further education and the opportunity to earn up to £30,000 – in contrast to going to university and graduating with a debt of £43,224 and facing an overcrowded jobs market."
Skills minister John Hayes added: "Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to get the training they need to build successful careers, and for businesses to train a new generation of employees with the skills that drive growth. I applaud Travelodge for its commitment to apprenticeships; and with additional funding of £180 million in this budget alone, this Government is enabling more employers to follow its lead."
An apprentice is expected to earn in total between £25,000 and £30,000 from training to graduation, which is within a three-year period – the same length of time spent studying for a degree at university.
