Travelodge has sourced close to three quarters of its staff for its latest London hotel from the city’s long-term unemployed, as part of a government-backed scheme.
The hotel in Southwark opened last week, with 31 of the 50 staff filled in housekeeping, reception and bar/café roles secured through employment agency Jobcentre Plus.
The new scheme was first trialled in London by the budget hotel chain in October last year.
The scheme was designed to get the long-term unemployed back to work – most of the candidates have been out of work from 18 months to two years.
The chain recently pledged that 25 percent of all new recruits will come from the Jobcentre Plus scheme once the project is nationwide.
Travelodge aims to open up to 700 new hotels over the next decade, creating well over 10,000 UK jobs.
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
