The new Support into Work Programme to assist hospitality workers in Birmingham and Leicester who are struggling to find work as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While job opportunities in hospitality remain limited, a new two-week, virtually delivered course will help individuals to secure short-term, interim roles in sectors including retail, transport and logistics. The course will be free of charge and the support offered includes workshops on demonstrating transferrable skills to secure roles in allied sectors, alongside help with job searches, CV development, applications and interview processes. Candidates will also receive mental health support to help them manage the emotional challenges of job seeking in the current climate.

In October 2020 the Hilton Effect Foundation announced Springboard as one of its grantees, jumpstarting the development and roll-out of the first ever Support into Work Programme. The course will be the first in a series of regionally targeted initiatives to support hospitality workers impacted by the pandemic. It will begin on the 23^rd November and is open for applications. To ensure the support reaches as many people as possible, there are also self-taught modules which will be made available to hospitality workers looking for help securing an interim role in another industry.

With unemployment rates particularly high in Birmingham and Leicester, the Support into Work Programme will provide vital support for local residents looking for new employment opportunities. Hospitality workers have so many valuable, transferrable skills, and this course will be perfect for anyone in need of guidance to secure an interim role until the hospitality industry is thriving again.

Stephen Cassidy, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, UK and Ireland, Hilton, said: “Even before the pandemic, Springboard’s services were a lifeline for people of all ages and backgrounds looking to kick start a career in hospitality. Now, with the hospitality industry facing its toughest period in a generation, their services are in higher demand than ever before. This programme will provide a helping hand to some of the many hardworking, dedicated people struggling to find work, and we’re delighted to support such a valuable initiative.”

Springboard is one of 23 recipients globally to receive a Hilton Effect Grant, which aims to address some of the most urgent humanitarian needs arising from the pandemic including economic security, sanitation/hygiene, food security and clean air and water.

To check eligibility and find out more about Springboard’s Support into Work Programme, please visit https://springboard.uk.net/siw/