As part of our commitment to providing learners with industry-recognised skills and clear routes into employment, Functional Skills UK has successfully introduced the UKHospitality Skills Passport across our Hospitality Skills Bootcamps.
The digital passport provides learners with an additional layer of recognition and helps them demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to begin a career in hospitality.
Supporting Learners Into Employment
The UKHospitality Skills Passport is a nationally recognised digital credential which confirms that learners have developed the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for roles across:
- Front of House
- Customer Service
- Food and Beverage Service
- Kitchen and Catering Environments
The passport is transferable between employers, helping reduce the need for repeat training and allowing individuals to showcase their skills more quickly when applying for jobs.
This supports the wider aim of our Skills Bootcamps by helping learners progress confidently into employment and long-term careers.
Working Alongside UKHospitality
Functional Skills UK works closely with Sandra Kelly, Skills Director at UKHospitality, to help deliver the programme.
Our strong employer partnerships and ability to mobilise quickly alongside existing Bootcamp delivery were recognised nationally, leading to FSUK being invited to attend the UKHospitality and OCN Strategic Partnership Forum in London earlier this year. Functional Skills UK was the only Independent Training Provider represented, with the majority of delivery currently taking place within colleges.
Sandra and the UKHospitality team praised the employer relationships already established by FSUK and the speed at which the passport was successfully integrated into our Bootcamp model.
Linking to National Skills Priorities
The introduction of the Skills Passport closely aligns with the Government's Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which highlighted the importance of employer-led skills, transferable knowledge and clear progression routes into work.
By embedding the passport into our curriculum, we are ensuring that learners gain not only qualifications but also recognised industry credentials that employers value.
This approach helps strengthen the connection between training and employment while supporting the hospitality sector's workforce needs.
Strong Early Success
Since launching the initiative, Functional Skills UK has successfully awarded 36 UKHospitality Skills Passports across three Hospitality Skills Bootcamp cohorts delivered in:
- Brighton
- Guildford
- Camberley
The passport sits alongside our wider employability offer, which includes employer masterclasses, guaranteed interviews and direct links with hospitality employers across the South East.
Working With Employers
A key strength of the Hospitality Skills Passport model is the close collaboration between training providers and employers.
Functional Skills UK has developed strong relationships with hospitality businesses across the South East, helping learners gain real insight into the sector and access employment opportunities.
Key employer partners and stakeholders involved in our Hospitality Skills Bootcamps include:
- De Vere Group
- Harbour Hotels
- Goodwood Racecourse
- Greene King
- Brighton Palace Pier
- Queens Hotel Brighton
- British Airways i360
- Golden Lion Group
Alongside many other local employers who support our learners through workplace visits, industry talks, guaranteed interviews and employment opportunities.
A Growing Partnership
At Functional Skills UK, we are proud to work alongside UKHospitality and continue to strengthen opportunities for learners entering the sector.
By combining nationally recognised credentials with strong local employer partnerships, we are helping learners gain confidence, develop industry skills and progress into sustainable employment.
A Message from our Strategic Partnerships Manager
“We have always believed that our Bootcamps should offer more than qualifications alone. The UKHospitality Skills Passport gives learners an additional way to showcase their skills and helps employers recognise the value they bring from day one.
We are proud to be working alongside Sandra Kelly and the UKHospitality team to help support the future workforce of the hospitality sector. The speed at which we have been able to integrate the passport into our Bootcamp model demonstrates the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to delivering training that employers genuinely value.”
Kyle Young, Strategic Partnerships Manager
At Functional Skills UK, we remain committed to delivering high-quality, employer-led training that transforms lives through learning. Through strong partnerships and a curriculum shaped by industry, we are helping learners gain the confidence, skills and opportunities they need to progress into rewarding careers.