Travelodge helps the long-term unemployed

8th August 2008, 11:41am

As part of its £150 million seaside investment programme in 55 new seaside hotels, Travelodge has announced it will be seeking to recruit at least a quarter of all staff at the new hotels from the local long-term unemployed.

This initiative will be carried out in partnership with Job Centre Plus (JCP) and be undertaken through a programme known as the Local Employer Partnership (LEP).

Under the programme, Travelodge gives a commitment to interviewing applicants who have undertaken a tailor made two week training scheme designed to help people re-enter the workforce.

Since January 2008 Travelodge has recruited 165 members of staff for new hotel openings across the UK, with 108, 65%, coming through the LEP programme

Chrissie Herbert, Director of Human Resources at Travelodge, said: "LEPs are a cost effective way for us to access potential new recruits for our hotels. We have found the scheme to be exceedingly productive, with 65% of jobs at our new hotel openings this year going to people who were out of work.

"I am delighted that we will be rolling the scheme out in all of our new coastal hotels and am sure that amongst the recruits will be hotel managers of the future."

Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, said: "This is an excellent opportunity to rejuvenate some of our most neglected seaside towns as they become increasingly popular holiday destinations. LEPs are a great way to tap into local skills and talent to the benefit of whole communities. In June, for the first time since the programme began, more than 1,000 people were found work through LEPs in a single week. We want to see that success replicated around the country."

Related Articles:

• 24 May 2011 - Travelodge buys four star Mercure Hotel
• 26 Apr 2011 - Hotel chain Travelodge appoints non executive director
• 19 Apr 2011 - Travelodge partners with major pub companies as part of expansion programme
• 17 Nov 2009 - Travelodge reveals10 new openings worth almost £50m
• 16 Oct 2009 - Planning permission granted for Travelodge's largest hotel
• 01 Oct 2009 - Travelodge and Marston's join forces
• 17 Aug 2009 - Travelodge launches first Essex hotel
• 29 Apr 2009 - Hotel room sold every second at Travelodge
• 25 Mar 2009 - UK's first Travelodge iBooker launches today

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