Training fund to bring new blood to tourism sector

Staff shortages are making it hard for restaurateur James Hill to expand his businesses

A new training fund is being launched to help young people enter the tourism industry.

Cumbria Tourism has set up new scheme after claims that recruiting staff is the biggest problem for hospitality businesses.

The fund aims to raise £50,000 per year to help cover the cost of training, career development and equipment.

Gill Haigh, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, said: "This fund is about saying to young people - and businesses - that this is here to support you, and that you are really valued."

Hospitality is the third largest industry in Britain.

"We really want young people to come into the industry, because the opportunities are huge," said Ms Haigh.

Ilayda Ozkan believes learning to be a chef could give her the chance to work abroad

At Carlisle College, catering courses provide the first steps into hospitality for young students.

Ilayda Ozkan, 17, said she wants learning to be a chef so she can work abroad.

But fellow student Bradley Shaw said opportunities to work in Cumbria's high-end restaurants could be a reason to stay in the county.

Alex Sharp-Walker, who works for the Westmorland family, who run Rheged, a cafe, gallery and cinema near Penrith, said it was hard to attract new staff.

"We’ve had to rethink our recruitment strategy to show that young people don’t have to leave Cumbria for a better career," she said.

James Hill, who runs two restaurants in Carlisle, said staff shortages make it hard to expand.

"When I first started, we used to be open seven days a week.

"But now we open five days a week as we have to give everyone their days off and it’s difficult to rotate and keep those standards."

He fully supports the new training fund, which Cumbria Tourism says will operate for the next four years.