£500,000 retail and hospitality training academy launches in Leeds
A £500,000 training academy to serve the region’s retail and hospitality workforce has been launched in Leeds city centre.
The Ambition:Leeds academy is a joint project between Leeds City Council, Landsec and LeedsBID, in direct response to demand from retailers who are looking for skilled recruits to join their workforce.
Located at the City Exchange building on Albion Street, the new centre is designed to deliver bespoke training under one roof by a range of education partners including Leeds City College, Leeds Beckett and The Source Skills Academy.
Recent research shows that employment in the wholesale and retail sector and the accommodation and food services sector is forecast to grow by 12% and 13% respectively over the next 10 years.
Andrew Cooper, chief executive at LeedsBID, said: “The retail and hospitality sector in the city is flourishing and it is imperative we continue to grow and support it with highly-skilled staff.
“Ambition:Leeds provides a great opportunity for employees to access the education, skills and training to help them on the path to a successful career, and for employers who are looking for high calibre candidates with hands-on experience.”
Andrew Russell, portfolio director at Landsec, which owns the City Exchange building and Trinity Leeds, added: “Leeds is ranked as the third highest destination for retail spend outside London, and it sits just outside the European top 20.
“We’d like to think Trinity Leeds has played a big part in that, and we’re proud to take it one step further by supporting an innovative project like Ambition:Leeds.
“It’s a unique career path for anyone who wants to become a part of the city’s thriving retail and hospitality industry.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment, said: “The council has invested to ensure that the city centre continues to be a great place to live, work and visit with great retail and dining experiences.
“Skilled staff are critical to this and we want to support employers to invest in their workforce skills to improve service standards and business performance to enable them to continue to adapt and grow in a changing economy.
“We are therefore very excited by the launch of Ambition:Leeds, which will see partners bring together an exciting portfolio of training courses, qualifications and masterclasses available across different skill levels to support the retail and hospitality industry in our city.”
