Flybe, Europe's largest and most successful regional airline, is honoured to have been invited to share centre stage today at the annual British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Skills Summit with Ed Balls, the Minister for Education at The Royal Opera House in London.

Such influential recognition has come just nine months after Exeter-based Flybe was named one of only three companies in the UK to achieve the high standards required to become an Awarding Body for its own approved national qualifications. It was an achievement reached in record time following Flybe being the only airline out of 153 companies to commit to and sign the Government's Skills Pledge in June 2007.  

The BCC Skills Summit will address the challenges facing the education sector and the strategies that need to be adopted in order to further expand and thrive.

 Simon Witts, Flybe's Director of Safety, Quality and Training will be sharing Flybe's experience and approach to skills and qualifications in the workplace, in particular, the airline's own initial training programmes launched in partnership with Exeter College for engineers and cabin crew.  He will also reflect on how Flybe has developed its in-house training with a focus on meeting the particular challenges facing the aviation industry in its ongoing need for highly skilled workers.

Mr Witts comments: "We are truly honoured to have been invited to join the Education Minister at this highly respected Skills' Summit.  In the last year, Flybe has confounded the global aviation industry trend by continuing to develop and thrive as a business and one of our key areas of focus has been training.  In an industry that relies heavily on having access to a continual supply of highly skilled workers, we fully recognise the critical need for quality training.  Our new apprenticeship programme allows individuals the opportunity to undertake both practical and theory-based learning and, upon graduation, move immediately into well paid engineering positions. 

"We are already enjoying the benefits of the scheme," adds Mr Witts. "The BCC Skills' Summit gives us the added and welcome opportunity to share our experiences with other companies and organisations in highlighting the many benefits to be gained from developing comprehensive training schemes for their employees.  We are looking forward to sharing our success stories in the hope that  they will excite and encourage other companies to adopt similar initiatives."

Martin Couzins, managing editor

The survey included some employer case studies on training.

Martin Couzins, managing editor

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Representatives of the travel and tourism industry met with People 1st last month to discuss the potential of establishing a National Skills Academy.

The meeting was attended by senior industry representatives from Hoseasons, Thomas Cook, TUI , Advantage Travel, Co-op Travel and Holiday Breaks as well as the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Institute of Travel and Tourism.

The aim was to identify some of the key challenges facing employers and areas where a new academy could make a real impact. Areas of importance indentified included energy prices,
eco-tourism, on-line trading, sustainability and financial modelling to withstand volatile economics.

Although very early days, the meeting made considerable progress in what was effectively identifying the blueprint for future education and training for travel and tourism. Although still at the speculative stage, the group is keen to progress its thinking over the next few months and research the market need for a new academy.

Earlier this year, People 1st submitted a bid for an academy in hospitality on behalf of employers, and developed a fully costed business plan which gained ministerial approval. The academy will welcome over 50,000 learners on approved training programmes over the next five years and play a key role in raising standards across the board.

It is not yet clear whether government will invite applications to develop further academies. However, if this opportunity arises - and employers wish to exploit it - People 1st will use its expertise and experience to help bring this vision to life.

If you are an employer who thinks that an Academy for Travel and Tourism would benefit the sector, please let us know by emailing
phil.raynsford@people1st.co.uk