NEWS WELL WARRANTED:


Hays Travel owner and chair Dame Irene Hays has been appointed as the High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear for 2023-24. Hays was declared the High Sheriff at a ceremony at South Shields Town Hall on April 3, after receiving a warrant direct from His Majesty’s Privy Council to take up the position. Mayors from the northeast region and other dignitaries witnessed Hays make a formal declaration to promise to “promote the peace, wellbeing and prosperity of our county and all its people”.


Plans to scrap travel courses will hit pipeline of talent for employers


Samantha Mayling


Academics and industry figures have urged the sector to lobby against government plans to scrap travel and tourism qualifications for students in England aged 16 to 19. They warn that defunding


Level 3 courses after 2025 will cut numbers choosing to study travel at university and hit the pipeline of talent for employers. The changes are


part of Department for Education (DfE) plans to streamline the post-16 Level 3 qualifications system with a focus on A levels and technical T levels. Under the plans, some


funding eligibility removed from the 2026-27 academic year. Industry experts and academics


say this means young people wishing to study the subject at Level 3 will have to opt instead for a general business qualification or an apprenticeship. Vicki Wolf, Abta’s head of


STORY TOP


education and career development, said: “Abta strongly disagrees with government plans to scrap travel and tourism qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds. There is still


high demand for these courses, and they are an important career


path for many people. “While apprenticeships are a


vocational subjects not covered by A and T levels will still be taught via replacements for BTEC Nationals known as Alternative Academic Qualifications. However, the government has confirmed that travel and tourism will not be included across the three qualifications, with


travelweekly.co.uk


fantastic opportunity for young people, not everyone is ready for work straight out of school and a college course gives them time to discover more about their area of interest.” Claire Steiner, HR and talent


specialist, said: “This has really flown under the radar for our sector and it is


important that businesses understand this will further reduce the number of young people engaging with travel and tourism. Collaboration is key. The industry must unite to voice our concerns over the defunding.” Lisa Rowbotham, Level 3 tourism


course leader at Runshaw College in Lancashire and a committee member of the Association for Tourism in Higher Educution (ATHE), warned: “The sector is already struggling with Brexit and an ageing workforce – this will only compound the problem.” She said awarding bodies are


lobbying the government and there is a campaign using the slogan #protectstudentchoice. John Garside, aviation, travel


and tourism lecturer at Birmingham Metropolitan College, urged professionals in the sector to advocate for travel, and for tourism to be included on post-16 funded programmes. “We need to drive change to the policy,” he said. “There are some outstanding students on my


course who have a very bright future. They will be lost to other industries if there is no qualification.” Dr Peter Robinson, ATHE


co-chair and head of the centre for tourism and hospitality management at Leeds Beckett University, said 163 further education colleges in the UK deliver 16-19 education and most have some travel and tourism provision. “It is particularly frustrating that


UK government recognises the value of tourism, events and hospitality to the economy, but doesn’t recognise the importance of providing young people with the skills and knowledge the sector needs,” he said. A DfE spokesperson said:


“We are strengthening progression pathways, creating clearly defined academic and technical routes with high quality qualifications leading to further study, and/or skilled employment. This will help students to make good choices and see more easily how their study will help them to progress.”


13 APRIL 2023 5 d


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PICTURE: Focal Point Phogotgraphy/David Armour


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