Our Story

Our heritage serves as a strong foundation for everything we do.

For over 50 years our organisation has delivered excellence in skills development and technical vocational education and training, using an industry-led approach.

London cityscape with Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

2024

Recognised as a highly commended business in the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards

People 1st International is recognised as a highly commended business in a prestigious Department for Business and Trade award, recognising our trading performance overseas. A trusted partner to employers, development banks, government agencies, NGOs and education providers around the world, we were honoured as part of the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards which celebrates exporting excellence among UK SMEs.

Released our impact report for 2022/23

Our annual impact report is released to showcase our work in 19 countries to create demand driven curriculum aligned with labour market needs, encourage investment in technical vocational education and training (TVET), promote lifelong learning, support business growth and foster social inclusion.

People 1st representative given award on stage by EFE-Egypt

2023

People 1st International receives EFE-Egypt Appreciation Award for 2023

People 1st International is awarded the EFE-Egypt Appreciation Award for 2023 for unwavering support towards the EFE-Egypt mission of empowering youth in Egypt.

People 1st International and EFE-Egypt’s partnership began when working on a concept to develop a skills academy for the Mall of Arabia. Staying connected, the organisations have built on their partnership and since collaborated on a number of projects including one with Majid Al Futtaim Group and Helm, supported by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation to establish a new inclusive training facility at City Centre Almaza targeting young people and people with disabilities.

Business people in discussion in the office while working together

2018

People 1st International – Part of the Workforce Development Trust

We became part of the Workforce Development Trust, a group of sector specialists with over 50 years’ experience supporting workforce development, incorporating Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, SFJ Awards and People 1st International.

People 1st International operates globally as an industry-led skills expert and partner with employers, industry bodies, skills organisations, donor funders, NGOs investment banks and governments to provide consultancy and training solutions. We also take a leading role in representing the UK’s sector skills councils and national skills academies across the globe through the UK Skills Federation.

2017

At the forefront of standards and quality assurance for apprenticeships in England

We were approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to deliver one of the first ever models of employer-led external quality assurance of apprenticeship end-point assessment.

Having facilitated, funded and undertaken development of over 20 apprenticeship standards on behalf trailblazers in hospitality, retail, travel and aviation (which brought together employers from across the sector as part of the government’s radical reform to create new employer-led apprenticeship standards), we were nominated by employers to manage the EQA process on behalf of employer-led boards.

We provided strategic support to large employers across the UK visitor economy sector on how to maximise their return from the newly-introduced apprenticeship levy.

Two hands holding jigsaw, team work concept

2016

People 1st

We brought together People 1st and People 1st Training Company to become an insight-driven performance and talent management expert, providing tailored solutions and advice for both UK and global clients.

Our remit focused on developing skills and business solutions for thousands of individuals delivered by our licensed associates and accredited providers.

As the leading authority on apprenticeships for the visitor economy, we led the development and review of over 20 apprenticeship standards for the sector. We spearheaded an industry taskforce of leading employers to drive fit-for-purpose apprenticeships that achieve high-quality outcomes for apprentices, businesses and the industry as a whole.

Two female entrepreneurs working together

2012

Acquired the National Skills Academy for Retail (NSAR).

In 2017, the NSAR skills shops became members of our provider network. Internationally the legacy of the NSAR’s skills shop network continues, with the model now operating in countries such as Jordan and Panama.

Our WorldHost programme is awarded with the London 2012 Inspire Mark

We delivered customer excellence through our WorldHost programmes to over 70,000 ambassadors and volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic games. The training was awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark as recognition of the programme’s objective in supporting the skills legacy of the Games.

Business people in training workshop activity

2011

People 1st Training Company

We created the People 1st Training Company to deliver a broad range of industry skills programmes in critical areas of customer service, leadership and management, female leadership programmes and training of trainers.

Red double-decker buses pass by Big Ben, London

2011

Acquired GoSkills

We took responsibility for the work of the passenger transport sector skills council, GoSkills, to deliver a combined sector skills approach to hospitality, tourism, travel and passenger transport.

2010

Secured the licence for WorldHost

People 1st secured the licence for WorldHost from the Province of British Columbia, Canada, to deliver a package of customer service training to prepare staff and volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The programme was originally used to train staff and volunteers at the successful 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Hotel concierge assisting guests in lobby

2004

People 1st – Sector Skills Council

Government disbanded the national training organisations and introduced non-profit organisations which worked with businesses to raise skills in a particular industry, including research into their skills needs. These were named sector skills councils (SSC), and our organisation operated the SSC for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism to drive an industry-led approach to workforce development.

1996

Hospitality Training Foundation (HTF)

Operating as the National Training Organisation for the hospitality industry, we merged with Ttento to include travel, tourism services and events. We oversaw the development of apprenticeship frameworks and national occupational standards and approved sector-specific qualifications, as well as taking forward a range of research and projects.

Restaurant staff learns to distinguish between glasses

1990

The Hotel and Catering Industry Training Company

Under Margaret Thatcher’s administration a decision was made to put training under a not-for-not-profit model and withdraw the levy and The Hotel and Catering Industry Training Company was formed by the government to cover industry.

Chef in professional kitchen for culinary training

1989

Stonebow

Stonebow became the training division of the organisation, delivering training solutions to industry employers.

1966

Hotel and Catering Industry Training Board

The new Labour government under Harold Wilson, decided to encourage hospitality businesses to introduce standardised training, and they all paid a levy to fund our programmes.

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