The Department for Work and Pensions will partner with UKHospitality to roll out hospitality sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) to 26 areas in need of jobs.

The expansion follows a successful pilot of the scheme in 2024, ran by UKHospitality, which delivered an 85% completion rate – of those who completed the course, 80% secured employment in the industry.

The hospitality SWAP delivers bespoke training to people looking for work. It trains them with relevant skills and provides a work placement and a guaranteed interview, helping participants be as job-ready as possible.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said the pilot “proved to be a brilliant way to provide high-quality, entry-level training for both new starters and those looking to get back into work”.

She added:

“I’m delighted that the government is rolling out our pilot to 26 new areas and using it as the model for its exciting plans to deliver at least 100,000 SWAP participants next year.

“I am incredibly excited to see the tangible benefit this will deliver for the sector. This announcement gives us the impetus to expand our work across the country, help more people find rewarding jobs in hospitality, boost growth, tackle economic inactivity and continue to develop our Hospitality Skills Passport.”

The Hospitality Skills Passport is a transferrable tool team members can use to demonstrate their competence and qualifications, avoiding duplication of training when moving roles. It was first launched in Liverpool in 2023 to help plug regional staff shortages.

The SWAP rollout comes after the Department of Education recently made two key changes to apprenticeships designed to help thousands more people complete training schemes each year. Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 will need to complete level 2 English and maths qualifications to pass, while the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced from 12 to eight months.