As A-level and GCSE students work out their next steps to fulfilling careers, an inspirational new online resource has gone live to showcase the incredible breadth and diversity of potential job roles in Cumbria’s tourism industry.
The new ‘Tourism Talent Hub’ has been spearheaded by Cumbria Tourism in partnership with Lakes College, Carlisle College, Kendal College, Furness College and The University of Cumbria.
With tourism accounting for 75,000 jobs in Cumbria – 26% of ALL jobs in the county – the new Tourism Talent Hub is being heralded as a place for students, parents and adults looking for careers and inspiration to make their mark in the industry.
Not only does the new platform showcase a diverse range of full-time, part-time, seasonal and ‘live in’ opportunities, but it also enables people to access a wide range of training, including apprentices, adult training programmes, skills bootcamps and more.
From roles in animal care and outdoor adventure, to marketing, management or arts and creative to name just a few, the Tourism Talent Hub will support people wanting to pursue their dream job at any stage of life.
Meanwhile, businesses can use the new online platform to find talent for their companies. As well as adverting job vacancies on the Tourism Talent Hub for free, they can tap into new opportunities and partnerships, including Sector Workplace Academy Programmes, the Refugee Employment Network (REN) and the sponsorship of overseas workers.
There are also opportunities to develop relationships with education providers, building on the work Cumbria Tourism has done in recent months to build partnerships with 30+ universities, colleges and schools across Cumbria and the North.
With recent Cumbria Tourism research showing that 86% of are struggling with the recruitment of staff, the new Tourism Talent Hub is seen as more important than ever for futureproofing the county’s visitor economy.
The project follows in-depth analysis carried out by the county’s official Destination Management Organisation as part of the recent Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), to find out more about the recruitment and skills needs of tourism and hospitality businesses.
It revealed a fragmented picture when it comes to local information and support for people hoping to develop future careers in the industry – with a clear need to bring practical help and resources together in one place.
Head of Partnerships and Projects at Cumbria Tourism, Rachel Tyson, says, “From gardeners to tour guides, graphic designers to park rangers, there is so much more to tourism and hospitality jobs than meets the eye, so the new Tourism Talent Hub a great way to bust some of the myths and misconceptions about working in tourism and hospitality.
“Some people may mistakenly perceive jobs in tourism as a stop gap or just a weekend job, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Employers are also offering more flexibility than ever before to accommodate around childcare and other domestic responsibilities.
“The new Tourism Talent Hub brings together a wide range of career and training opportunities together in a truly coordinated way for jobseekers of all ages. It will help match people with new career opportunities, highlighting the different ways they can gain industry experience, train on the job and potentially progress into senior positions.”