Liza Begum

HOMELESS people are being trained up for work in some of the country’s top hotels.

A school is being set up in the St Giles Hotel, Soho, so that rough sleepers can complete courses in hospitality.

They will learn leadership and communication skills and get “hands-on work experience”. At the end of the course the graduates are “guaranteed job interviews” at the hotels they have been partnered with.

Hotels taking part include Pan Pacific, Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, Marriott, Accor, Z Hotels, Travelodge and St Giles Hotel.

Tyron Julien, a director at the Single Homeless Project charity, said: “Homelessness doesn’t define you.

“It is an experience, not a for ever and it can be ended with the right solutions. Our expert teams work closely with the Londoners we support off the street and get them job-ready.

“Gaining valuable qualifications and a job is absolutely crucial to become independent and leave homelessness behind for good.”

The project has been devised by Saira Hospitality, Camden and Westminster city councils, the St Giles Hotel in Bloomsbury and the Single Homeless Project.

Abigail Tan, the top boss at St Giles, said she wanted to play “a part in helping people back into meaningful work and making a positive impact in finding the solution to solving rough sleeping and homelessness”.

Greg Früchtenicht, chief operating officer at Saira Hospitality, said: “It’s the generosity of St Giles which is really providing the platform for this partnership.

“Without a roof over their head it would be impossible for any student to take part in this training.

“We’re treating this year as a pilot programme but very much see an opportunity to make this an annual activation in the future”.

Westminster has the highest levels of rough sleeping in the capital.

The city council’s cabinet member for housing services Cllr Liza Begum said: “Westminster sees the highest amount of rough sleeping anywhere in the country, and we are committed to helping every single person to get the accommodation and support they need to move on with their lives.

“That’s not something we can do alone, which is why partnerships like this are so important. Our work with St Giles allows us to provide safe, secure, accommodation while equipping people with skills, opportunities, and tailored support.”

The scheme aims to secure employment contracts for each resident by the end of April 2024 and to help each person to access private rental accommodation.