Intercontinental Hotel Group’s inaugural class of the IHG Academy hospitality training programme in partnership with IL&FS Skills has graduated.
The three-month programme saw eight participants graduate, and full time employment opportunities were offered to five students at IHG properties across India.
The course, which commenced in April, combined theory and practical lessons. Students first received information about the group’s policies and standards and the hospitality industry in general, followed by on-the-job training.
IHG chief operating officer India, Middle East and Africa Pascal Gauvin said: “250 million people will be joining the Indian workforce by 2030 and there is an urgent need to turn the working-age population into an employable workforce with skills that match the demands of the economy.
“Our partnership with IL&FS was formed out of recognition of that need… The fact that more than half the students of the first class have been offered jobs at our hotels is testament to the quality of training the students received. In time, we believe the programme will help turn the tide and grow the pool of skilled workers in India to support the booming industry.”
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The academy partnered with IL&FS Skills in India, which is the country’s largest skills development organisation and aims to train two million people in ten years.
IL&FS Skills COO Arunkumar Pillai commented: “As one of the largest skills development organisation in India, a substantial number of students pass through our doors. It is therefore vital we tie up with the right partner to deliver an effective vocational training programme for local people looking to gain hospitality skills.
“IHG's reputation and scale gives us confidence that the graduates from our programme will be amongst the industry's best and we are extremely pleased with the excellent results from the inaugural class. We have also had very positive feedback from the students and we believe these three months of training will go a long way in building India's hospitality sector in the coming years.”
IHG Academy is a collaboration between the hotel operator and local education and community providers to provide local people with skills and employment opportunities at IHG hotels.
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