Brend Hotels have just launched their own Apprenticeship Academy to be based at Saunton Sands Hotel in Braunton, north Devon. The group has been operating a vocational training scheme for staff since 2004. Now, instead of apprentices attending local colleges, all training will initially take place at the hotel.

There are currently sixty apprentices on the scheme learning a variety of skills connected with work across the hotel industry including front of house, bar, waiting, kitchen, administration, housekeeping, concierge and portering.

Director Peter Brend Senior said apprenticeships had proved a very important way of ‘growing your own’ staff. “We are a family company that values its employees and encourages them to stay long-term,” he said. “Apprenticeships are an excellent way of developing and enhancing skill levels and establishing our own academy means we can offer the very best Level 2 and 3 training available in situ. Our aim is to become a beacon of industry excellence in all senses of the term.”

The Brend Group is currently recruiting apprentices.

Brend Hotels operates a collection of eleven luxury hotels across Devon and Cornwall.

Details: www.brend-hotels.co.uk