Greene King has marked National Apprenticeship Week by renewing its commitment to tackling the skills gap in the hospitality sector.

The Bury St Edmunds-based group, the UK’s largest pub retailer, will continue to train young people throughout 2017 through its own apprenticeship scheme and The Prince’s Trust’s Get Into Hospitality programme.

Last year, Greene King announced it would offer 10,000 apprenticeships over the next three years, and it is on track to fulfil this pledge.

Chief executive Rooney Anand said: “It’s more important than ever that we continue to bring young people into the hospitality industry and show that it can provide a stable, exciting and rewarding career path.

“It is becoming recognised that there is a skills shortage for back of house roles, so we’re keen to develop talent in this area.

“Our successful apprenticeship scheme, and The Prince’s Trust Get into Hospitality programme, allows us to do this. We’re looking forward to welcoming many more apprentices throughout 2017.”

Greene King has taken on more than 9,000 apprentices since the launch of its award-winning scheme in 2011. Under the Get Into Hospitality programme, launched last year to address skills and experience gaps which often prevent young people getting into work, Greene King aims to offer a job at one of its pubs or restaurants to those who successful complete the scheme, leading on to an apprenticeship to develop their skills further.

Research indicates that, in order to keep up with demand, the UK’s hospitality sector will require an additional 1.3m staff, including 11,000 chefs, by 20241.

Greene King featured in the 2016 Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers List amd was ranked 27th out of 70 businesses in the Rate My Apprenticeship Top 70 School Leaver Employers Table 2017, in which it was the only company in the pub industry to feature.