NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


VIEWS ON DATA TRAINING


Apprentices learn via webinars, mentoring, industry visits and


one-to-one coaching


Data skills apprenticeships for the leisure travel sector are being created to tackle a talent gap in the industry. Samantha Mayling reports


Data training courses ‘can help firms stay competitive’


“ U


nleash the power of your data by developing the skills of your people.” That was the rallying


cry from three organisations earlier this year as they launched two data analytics apprenticeships for the business travel sector. Professional services firm


Grant Thornton, BPP School of Technology and the Business Travel Association designed the courses to help business travel firms tackle “critical” digital skill gaps. Twenty-six employees from BTA


members Agiito, Amex GBT, ATPI, BCD Travel, Clarity, Flight Centre and Gray Dawes began the courses last month, with more planning to enrol in future. Qualifications are now being


designed for the leisure travel sector. Helen Turner, BTA member and


partnerships manager, explained the rationale behind the courses. “Businesses are struggling to


analyse and manage their valuable data effectively, mainly due to the significant lack of data and digital skills across most industries,” she said.


18 6 JULY 2023 Businesses are


struggling to analyse their valuable data effectively, mainly due to lack of digital skills


“Data analytics plays such


a critical role to ensure firms remain competitive.” She said there was “very limited


awareness” of the apprenticeship levy and government funding, so the courses helped tackle that problem while promoting the benefits of staff development. Turner said: “Organisations in


England with an annual salary bill of more than £3 million have been paying 0.5% of this [bill] each month as an apprenticeship levy since 2017. “This is to be used to attract and


train new talent, as well as upskilling, developing and retraining existing talent. The programme costs are paid from the levy fund. “Companies that don’t pay the levy only have to contribute 5% of


the total programme cost, as the government co-invests the remaining 95%.” This means non-levy paying organisations pay £600 for the Level 3 and £750 for the Level 4 qualifications. The Level 3 Data Citizen qualifi-


cation equates to two A-levels, while the Level 4 Data Analyst qualification equates to the first year of a degree. Apprentices spend a minimum


of six hours a week learning for their qualification, via webinars, mentoring, industry visits and one-to-one coaching. Helen Gibson, client solutions


at Data Assembly, part of the BPP Education Group, said apprentices could, for example, study data following a natural disaster to find out the best time to rebook


Martin Sandford, apprentice and hotel solutions customer success director, BCD Travel


“Being able to communicate through data storytelling and visualisation is powerful. I’m looking forward to bringing back learnings to support and enhance my own work, the wider team and broader business.”


Rachel Brown, head of HR & learning and development, ATPI


“The travel industry is looking to fill vacancies and attract new talent to the sector post-Covid, which is why ATPI is always on the lookout for attractive training opportunities. This will allow us to make better decisions, understand customer behaviour, increase revenues, identify inefficiencies and stay competitive.”


travel, or ascertain reasons for a spike in bookings. Sue Ledgard, talent solutions


consumer industry lead at Grant Thornton, said: “It is a no-brainer. Data is king but most people are not properly taught how to use data. “We’re seeing the ‘big resignation’


because people are being offered opportunities elsewhere or are demo- tivated due to lack of development.” She warned of “huge miscon-


ceptions” about apprenticeships being just for young people, adding: “They’re for anyone of any age, at any stage of their career, who wants to


From left: Sue Ledgard, Helen Turner and Helen Gibson


develop themselves.” O Leisure travel data academies start in November and Grant Thornton is inviting companies to hear more at briefing sessions in July, August and September. Email Sue Ledgard at sue.k.ledgard@uk.gt.com.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84