IHG Partners IL&FS Skills to Develop Vocational Hospitality Talent in India

InterContinental Hotels Group and IL&FS Skills, one of India’s largest skills development organisations, have launched the 15th IHG Academy programme in India, joining over 300 IHG Academy programmes globally.

The partnership will see IL&FS Institute of Skills (IIS) providing IHG approved vocational hospitality training across the country as part of the programme.

Following the three-month course, participants are able to apply for roles at IHG hotels in India and across the globe.

The IHG Academy is a global collaboration between IHG and local education and community providers. The programme aims to provide people with skills development and employment opportunities and create a sustainable talent pipeline for IHG. The partnership with IIS is IHG’s first vocational programme in India.

On his visit to IL&FS Institute of Skills, Delhi, Richard Solomons, Chief Executive Officer, IHG said, “We pride ourselves on the great experience we offer guests in India and around the world. The only way we can achieve this is to have well-qualified, passionate teams. In India, we have the task of recruiting 10,000 new employees over the next three to five years as we open the 45 hotels in our development pipeline. One of the most effective ways for us to achieve this is to train for the required skills through structured skill development programs like this one. It is our privilege to work in conjunction with the Indian government to share our knowledge and enhance the skills of young people who want to build their career in hospitality. This partnership with IL&FS Skills will make a big difference to these students and enables us to actively contribute to our local communities in a meaningful and lasting way.”

The programme supplements IHG’s on-going support of the Indian Government’s Hunar Se Rozgaar initiative, launched to create employable skills for young adults aged 18 to 28 years old who do not have access to specialised education.

IL&FS Skills’ students will be trained to IHG’s rigorous standards whilst also gaining thorough knowledge and understanding of the Indian hospitality sector. The training programme is divided in two sessions of 45 days each, mixing theory and practical classes.

In their first session, students will be trained by IL&FS Skills on the English language, and soft skills using the latest technology. During the second part of the programme, IHG will provide on-the-job training to give the young students an opportunity to put into practice what they have learnt.

A special emphasis will be placed on recruiting women into the programme, with the aim of mobilising the female workforce.

Upon completion of the three-month training, candidates will benefit from being more employable and will also have the opportunity of employment in an IHG hotel including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.