CUMBRIA Tourism is joining with the Centre for Leadership Performance to support young people in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The Dream Placement 2023 aims to support young people getting into the sectors. 

Young people aged 16-18 years take part in the six-month development programme, which raises aspirations, confidence and develops skills, with some of the group taking part in a weeklong leadership placement with a local employer that helps young people and employers forge connections and showcase the breadth of opportunities available across Cumbria.

Dream placement helps to retain and support young people into local employment.

Many of the brightest students leave Cumbria for university, never to return. Meanwhile many other students are challenged by educational attainment or personal circumstances.

The scheme connects businesses to a group of highly motivated, ambitious young people to showcase the opportunities within their organisation.

Giving businesses a fresh perspective and a new pair of eyes to develop new ideas, whilst helping businesses develop new ideas for their own work experience programmes.

There have been some fantastic stories from previous years Dream Placement Programme, with one of the attendees securing a full-time position in the Rogan Academy culinary course in collaboration with Kendal College.

The successful candidate spent their placement week at the three Michelin-starred L’Enclume in Cartmel learning what it’s like to be part of one of Simon Rogan’s restaurants and hotels.

Rachel Tyson, Head of Partnerships and Projects at Cumbria Tourism said:“We’re delighted to be teaming up with the Centre for Leadership Performance bringing this year’s Dream Placement to the Tourism and Hospitality Sector”

“There continues to be urgent staff shortages within Cumbria’s tourism and hospitality industry, with our business tracker research revealing that 88% of businesses view recruitment of staff as a problem.

“Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the county’s aging population have led to a perfect storm, with many businesses now looking to recruit from a shrinking pool of applicants.

"These challenges are stifling business recovery with many unable to operate at full capacity.

Dream Placement is a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate some of the amazing career opportunities our county has to offer.

This follows the ongoing work we’ve been doing with schools and colleges right across the county, working with the next generation of Cumbrian workers, eliminating the negative perceptions that our industry is often met with.

Last year we took in a Dream Placement student ourselves from Walney who got an insight into the working life of Cumbria Tourism, sitting in on important cross organisational meetings, helping with our digital marketing campaigns and learning what it’s like to work in the tourism industry.

Businesses wishing to take part in the current 2023 programme should visit www.dreamplacement.org.uk or contact Nicola Woolley Nicola.woolley@cforlp.org.uk\.

READ MORE: Cumbria Tourism's Rachel Tyson celebrates 20 years in the company