Premier Inn Franchise Demonstrates a Titanic Leap Forward for Recruitment

By: Premier Inn | 17 Shares 315 Reads

September 10, 2010 // Franchising.com // The biggest budget hotel chain in Northern Ireland, Premier Inn, is working closely with the Department for Employment & Learning (DEL) and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) as part of its latest recruitment drive in Northern Ireland, demonstrating its commitment to offering equal opportunities for employees and guests alike.

The new Premier Inn Titanic Quarter / City Airport launched a recruitment drive for its new hotel opening on 8th November with a focus on providing opportunities for deaf candidates, those hard of hearing, and the long term unemployed. The three day recruitment fair saw over 200 candidates being interviewed on day one alone, including a number of deaf and hard of hearing candidates.

The RNID have been a key partner in supporting Premier Inn in its bid to not only offer equal opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing candidates, but also in training all existing team members in basic sign language so that any deaf or hard of hearing guests have a world class experience when they visit.

Keith Freeman, Regional Manager, Premier Inn Northern Ireland comments: "Being able to work with the RNID to deliver the skills that our team need to make all our guests feel comfortable and well looked after has been a breath of fresh air. Now taking it a step further and offering opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing to join our teams will only help in our delivery of service for our guests.

"Premier Inn is a great believer in recruiting based on attitudes and behaviour; rather than skills and experience and it is this kind of approach that is opening up new opportunities for all willing candidates, including the long term unemployed, in Northern Ireland."

Alan McClure: head of RNID Northern Ireland said: "Since opening in Northern Ireland, Premier Inn have committed to training their team members in basic sign language so that any deaf or hard of hearing guests have a world class experience when they visit. The RNID have been a key partner in supporting this focus, running training courses for the team members."

Working with the 'Bridge to Employment' programme and DEL has also been instrumental in preparing long term unemployed candidates for the interview process.

Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey said: "This is an exciting recruitment opportunity at a time when the local economy is under significant pressure. I welcome Premier Inn's decision to offer job opportunities for the long term unemployed and people with disabilities. "My Department's Bridge to Employment Programme will assist the long term unemployed to gain the necessary skills to secure employment with Premier Inn. The Programme has been designed with full co-operation of the employer to ensure it meets Premier Inn's needs. All candidates who successfully complete the Programme will be guaranteed an interview for employment within the hotel."

Premier Inn Titanic Quarter / City Airport is opening on 8th November - the first hotel opening in Titanic Quarter which helps to cement Premier Inn's position as the biggest budget hotel provider. The hotel will include 120 bedrooms and feature an on-site restaurant offering an excellent choice of hot or cold food and an 'All You Can Eat' Premier breakfast.

Each bedroom caters for up to two adults and two children (aged 15 and under) and includes an en-suite bathroom with shower and bath; a king-size bed with duvet; remote control TV/ radio alarm; tea/ coffee making facilities, and a spacious desk area with internet access.

For further press information please contact Hannah Calder-Bundy or Lisa Rebak on 0207 693 6999 or email premierinn@frankpr.it

Notes to Editors

New employment legislation called the Equality Act is being introduced on Oct 1st.

Premier Inn

Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK's biggest budget hotel brand with over 590 budget hotels and more than 42,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms, TV with Freeview channels, and WiFi internet access. All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.

In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and is now open in Bangalore, India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn aims to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London (within the M25) by 2012.

Premier Inn is currently offering rooms for just £29 (restrictions apply). Visit www.premierinn.com for full terms and conditions.

Premier Inn supports WaterAid, the international charity whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. Premier Inn, as part of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, aims to raise £1 million for WaterAid over the next two years. Details can be found at www.wateraid.org/whitbread

Whitbread PLC is the UK's largest hotel and restaurant group operating market-leading businesses in the budget hotels and restaurant sectors. Its well-loved brands are Premier Inn, Beefeater, Table Table, Brewers Fayre, Taybarns and Costa Coffee. Whitbread PLC employs over 34,000 people and serves 10 million customers every month in its 1,800 outlets across the UK.

In March 2009 Whitbread launched the 'Whitbread Model' - a six month apprenticeship programme.

The 'Whitbread Model' is an innovative apprenticeship programme because all employees are eligible across its UK hotel and restaurant operations. The model is also totally integrated into the core business training and development programmes and can be achieved in half the time of a normal NVQ. Employees can study for NVQ's in House keeping, Food processing and Cooking, Food and Drink service and Front Office.

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