Two senior HR directors from the hospitality industry have been appointed trustees of People 1st, the sector’s skills council.
Robin Mills, HR director at Compass Group UK and Ireland, and Natalie Bickford, HR director at Sodexo UK and Ireland, will join the McDonald’s chief people officer David Fairhurst on the board.
Mills said: “Training and development is fundamental to the future of our industry, and the work of People 1st is key to ensuring that the right qualifications and funding are available to employers.”
On her appointment, Natalie Bickford said: “This is an interesting time to join the People 1st board.
“The launch of the Great Places to Work campaign and the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games, present a huge window of opportunity for industry to improve its reputation.”
People 1st launched the sector’s Great Places to Work campaign in August. It is aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds demonstrates the career opportunities in hospitality, and was supported by a national television advertising campaign.
People 1st chief executive Brian Wisdom added: “Compass, Sodexo and McDonalds are all supporters of our campaign. These are also the three largest employers in our sector, representing nearly 10% of our whole workforce. I am confident that with their support, we will be able to transform skills delivery in hospitality.”
