Who: Marriott International and the Prince’s Trust

Objective: In 2015, American multinational hospitality company, Marriott International, pledged to create 20,000 training opportunities for young people by 2020. Three years prior, the hotelier joined forces with British charity, the Prince’s Trust, beginning a foray into nationwide charitable endeavours that have leveraged over 50 UK locations to provide diverse opportunities in the booming industry.

With the introduction of its ‘World of Opportunity’ programme, Marriott International has, in just two years, reached 53% of its target through its partnership with the Prince’s Trust. Michel Miserez, area vice president of UK & EMEA at Marriott International, says, “People come first at Marriott, and we always try to be a great corporate citizen. Partnerships 
like those with the Prince’s Trust help give opportunity to people who have not had the privilege to have access to education or to families that can support them in their mental 
and social upbringing.”

Strategy: Employing approximately 2,575 people within the UK programme and providing over 10,000 diverse training opportunities, from bed-making to bartending, Marriott International has created a wealth of interchangeable apprenticeship and placement schemes. The dynamic ‘Get into Hospitality’ programme, allowed Marriott International to begin the transformative process through a four-week introductory course that aims to raise awareness into the diverse job roles and departments within the hotel industry. Through its collaboration with the Prince’s Trust, over £1m has been donated to the project, along with 60,000 hours of volunteer contribution since the programme’s inception in 2012.

Rationale: “Youth unemployment is a big problem in Europe, and in some countries more than others. In the UK, it’s three-and-a-half times the rate of adult unemployment. We provide a platform for people to come and meet with us in our HR departments, and also through universities and school visits, finding ways to give young people opportunities through hospitality,” says Miserez.