Cumbria Tourism is working alongside its Strategic Partner, the University of Cumbria, to encourage tourism and hospitality businesses to sign up aspiring managers for the increasingly popular Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.

This unique qualification enables potential leaders to develop the management expertise needed to progress their careers in a wide range of tourism settings, giving them on-the-job learning to a degree level standard.

The apprenticeships are funded by the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. This means non-levy-paying employers pay only 5% towards the cost of the three-year course, with the Government picking up 95% of the total cost – and the employee paying nothing.

There are also a number of other key benefits for businesses. As well as the company gaining from the team member’s newly acquired knowledge, it’s hoped there is extra incentive to retain them in the longer run.

The on-campus days are also focussed on quieter times for the tourism industry, making it more flexible and convenient for employers to free up their staff to study while they work.

To raise awareness of what’s available, the University of Cumbria is hosting a taster event for its BA (Hons) Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship on Wednesday 29 June, at their Rydal Road campus in Ambleside.

As well as being open to new and aspiring managers who want to develop their knowledge and skills, the half-day session is aimed at employers who would like more of an insight into what the course entails for an apprentice. That includes anyone currently working as a graduate trainee, supervisor or other junior level management position.

The university has been working closely with the county’s official Destination Management Organisation to spearhead the programme and Cumbria Tourism’s Head of Partnerships and Projects, Rachel Tyson, says it really has been designed for the industry, for the industry.

She comments, “This is just one example where Cumbria Tourism has been working with the university to promote pathways into the tourism industry as a worthwhile career, with a longer-term aim of easing some of the recruitment challenges tourism operators are facing.

“Enrolling staff for the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship is straightforward and cost-effective for businesses to do. At a time when recruiting and retaining the best people is highly competitive, offering them this clear career development and progression is a fantastic incentive for would-be candidates to join the business. What’s more, it gives them a long-term reason to stay.

“For any tourism and hospitality businesses who have trainee managers that could potentially benefit from the course, the taster event in Ambleside later this month is a handy way for business leaders to find out more directly from the university’s visitor economy team.

“We would definitely encourage any tourism business committed to nurturing new talent and innovation to go along and explore how they can support staff through the course and in turn, build momentum for their long-term business success.”

For further information about the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship taster event on 29 June, contact: nicola.dawson@cumbria.ac.uk