Whitbread opens Premier Inn training centre in Lincolnshire to help young people with learning disabilities find meaningful work.
The centre, based at Lincolnshire County Council’s InspireU campus, replicates a Premier Inn with three ensuite bedrooms, a reception, corridor and linen room.
The facility is part of Whitbread’s Thrive programme, designed to create job opportunities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Over the summer, the programme expanded to the Liverpool City Region, supporting students at Wirral Met College alongside long-term partners Derwen College in Oswestry and Hereward College in Coventry.
The Lincolnshire centre will be used by local special schools, colleges and adult services, helping learners progress into supported internships or permanent roles at Premier Inn hotels.
By 2026, Whitbread plans to offer 100 supported internships each year to help close the disability employment gap.
Chief people officer of Whitbread, Rachel Howarth, said: “At Whitbread, we believe there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition — and Thrive proves that when employers step up, real change happens. None of this would be possible without the hard work of our partners, colleagues and local communities, and I want to thank everyone who has helped bring it to life.
“Fewer than 5% of people with learning disabilities are in paid employment – we want to help change that by creating practical routes into work for young people with special education needs and disabilities. It’s incredibly exciting to see the project gain momentum and strength and we can’t wait to help more young people into work.”
Councillor Natalie Oliver, lead member for children’s services and culture at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “By giving young people with learning disabilities the chance to train in a real hotel environment, we are opening doors to opportunity and independence. It is a major step forward for inclusive education and employment in Lincolnshire.”
Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel brand, operates 86,000 rooms nationwide.
It also has a growing footprint in Germany, with 11,000 rooms.
Whitbread is participating in the Choose Hospitality Pledge, a 2021 initiative promoting the benefits of a career in hospitality.
The group’s latest results showed Premier Inn’s revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell 2%, though it still outperformed the midscale and economy market.