Springboard Scotland

News

NEW AGE LEGISLATION IMPACTS ON TOURISM BUSINESSES

New legislation outlawing age discrimination will come into force on 1st October 2006, affecting employers, whether they employ one, 100 or 1000 employees. The legislation covers every organisation whether private or public sector and has implications for both employment and vocational training. Employers will have to adopt age positive practices. This means employers will no longer be able to recruit, train, promote or retire people on the basis of age.

The new legislation will require a major cultural change in our industry as we are known to have a very young workforce and a high labour demand. This makes hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism particularly vulnerable to the effects of falling birth rate and an ageing workforce – if tourism businesses are to succeed and prosper then we need to ensure we are recruiting a diverse workforce.

Springboard Scotland is running a BE READY campaign in conjunction with the Age Partnership Group (APG). Hundreds of tourism businesses across Scotland have been sent copies of Springboard’s BE READY information brochure, packed full of practical information on age issues for employers in the tourism sector.

As a hospitality, leisure, travel or tourism business, are you ready?

If you feel this will have an impact on your business, Springboard Scotland can help by providing you with a recruitment and retention audit of your business, provide guidance and advise on how to implement change.

The Age Partnership Group is also providing employers with a free Personnel Organiser containing help on age issues, hard facts, top tips and useful contacts in a handy sized organiser.

Get your copy now Call 0845 715 2000 or email: apg@isky.co.uk for your free copy.

Tourism Is Everyone’s Business CD-Rom Launched!

Springboard Scotland & Visit Scotland

Springboard Scotland and VisitScotland have launched a new initiative to encourage young people to follow a career in tourism and provide Scotland’s tourism industry with an appropriately trained workforce. An interactive CD-Rom resources kit has been developed by VisitScotland’s Quality and Standards team and Springboard Scotland to promote tourism as a career to schools and colleges. Springboard gratefully acknowledges Learning & Teaching Scotland as the publishers and copyright holders of the Case Studies that appear in the Resource section of CD 02 Curriculum Support.

The first of two launch events saw Phillip Riddle, Chief Executive of VistiScotland returning to his old secondary school Dunfermline High School. Patricia Ferguson, Tourism Minister gave the CD-Rom her full endorsement: “Our ambition is to have the best regarded tourism workforce in the world, with highly-skilled managers and leaders who nurture and value their staff,” she said. “This CD-Rom helps that process, encouraging young people to take up a career in tourism, one of Scotland’s booming industries.”

Pupils from Dunfermline High School were given the opportunity to try out the CD-Rom first hand. Using case studies of people working in the tourism industry, the CD-Rom outlines the wide range of career opportunities on offer. Case studies have also been developed in collaboration with key industry partners such as Historic Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Marriott Hotels and David Lloyd Leisure. These have been adapted for use in the delivery and assessment of the Travel and Tourism curriculum from Intermediate 1 to Higher Level.

The second launch event was held in the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness and the Springboard Scotland team were joined by Colin Houston from VisitScotland and Gavin Ellis from Knockomie Lodge and Chairman of the Scottish BHA. Laura James from Culloden Academy who is currently studying travel and tourism was also a key speaker who highlighted to value of the CD-Rom.

The CD-Rom proved just as popular with the students from Dornoch Academy and Kingussie High School who attended the Inverness launch!

“Tourism is an extremely rewarding career and one that is of vital importance to Scotland’s future to ensure long term economic gain,” said Colin Houston, Quality Development Manager for VisitScotland.

“We need to ensure that tourism is here to stay, is sustainable and exists for generations to come. Everyone has a responsibility for developing this industry, protecting the environment and creating jobs with solid career paths.”

Marlyn Howitt, Director of Springboard Scotland said: “The CD-Rom is a fantastic resource for all those involved in tourism. The title' 'Tourism is Everyone's Business' is very appropriate and should be used by every business to promote the importance of tourism to the Scottish economy. It should also be used to promote exciting and sustainable careers to all. This product also shows a very successful partnership between Springboard Scotland and VisitScotland. A very worthwhile, usable tool for every business and education establishment.”

To order your copy of the new CD-Rom please email info.scotland@springboarduk.org.uk

Additional resources and support materials produced by Learning & Teaching Scotland for Intermediate 1 & 2 Travel & Tourism and Higher and Advanced Higher Tourism can be found at: www.ltscotland.org.uk/nq/resources