In a major step to future proof Scotland’s visitor economy, new Modern Apprenticeships for hospitality, chefs and customer service, retail and travel are now live, offering a valuable opportunity for both employers and apprentices. These apprenticeships aim to equip the workforce with the skills needed to succeed in one of the nation’s key sectors.

Scotland’s visitor economy is a cornerstone of the economy, contributing significantly to employment and GDP. As the second-largest growth sector, sustainable tourism accounts for 30% of total growth sector employment, with one in every eleven jobs in Scotland linked to tourism (VisitScotland).

As the sector continues to grow, it is crucial to ensure that the workforce is equipped with the skills and resilience needed to navigate the industry’s evolving challenges. The introduction of these new Modern Apprenticeships will help businesses to build a skilled talent pipeline while providing individuals with the opportunity to build long-term careers.

Working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, we collaborated with employers, providers and apprentices to develop the apprenticeships and ensure they address both current and future industry needs. Designed to be practical and accessible, the qualifications are closely aligned with the realities of modern work, ensuring they deliver real value to businesses and learners alike.

The new apprenticeships include:

• Modern Apprenticeship in Customer Service, Retail and Travel (SCQF Level 5 and 6): Supports entry-level customer-centric roles and contains three incorporated specialist pathways: customer service, retail service and travel service.
• Modern Apprenticeship in Hospitality (SCQF Level 5): Covers skills required for several roles in the sector, including delivering barista services, serving food and drink, servicing rooms, providing reception services, supporting event delivery and preparing simple dishes.
• Modern Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery (SCQF 5 & 6): Helps employees with little or no experience in professional cookery to build skills and knowledge in the kitchen and develop a career in this area.

The launch of these apprenticeships comes as part of a broader transformation of Scotland’s apprenticeship system. In 2019, Scotland introduced a new approach to apprenticeship development, which aligns occupational competence with job activities. This employer-led system ensures apprenticeships remain relevant and responsive to the needs of the workforce now and in the future.

Through extensive consultation with employers, employees and other stakeholders, the apprenticeships have been redeveloped to better reflect the opportunities and challenges in the visitor economy. This transformation ensures apprenticeships align with industry needs, are fit for purpose and are assessable and deliverable in the workplace. This approach offers clear benefits for both employers and learners.

Benefits for employers:

• Workforce alignment: Apprentices gain the right skills to meet both current and future industry needs.
• Increased productivity: Supports higher productivity and demonstrates clear value for employers.
• Staff retention: Helps create a talent pipeline and encourages knowledge transfer across teams.

Benefits for learners:

• Skills for the future: Apprentices develop resilience to change and acquire competencies relevant to the future of work.
• Recognised qualifications: Apprentices receive transferable qualifications, enhancing their career mobility.
• Expanded opportunities: Provides real-world work experience, helping individuals explore their career interests and opportunities.

To access more information about the apprenticeships, visit apprenticeships.scot.