As a venue we are devoted and totally committed to delivering the highest standards of quality and service at every point throughout the process.

Our people are a key part of the delivery and delivery of our high standards would not be possible without them. It was with this in mind that in 2007 the club teamed up ESG (Employability Skills Group) to offer tailored vocational hospitality training qualifications to its core staff and school leavers (as part of an apprentice scheme). This was further rolled out to include matchday and part-time staff in 2008 and has been enhanced further with wider roll-out in 2009.

The Stadium of Light is proud to have the largest of such schemes at any major hospitality venue in the UK, this is testament to the hard work from the learners and mentors and trainers from ESG involved.

Gary Hutchinson, Group General Manager - Catering and Events says: "The Academy offers a great opportunity to develop the skills base of our existing staff and to also offer employment to school leavers, with a specific scheme in place to train them for a career in the hospitality industry.

"Our top-class conference, banqueting and events facilities help us to provide training to ensure we equip the students with the necessary skills to succeed in this highly competitive market. The huge variety of events that the stadium can accommodate also provides the perfect backdrop against which to measure performance."

Adrian Holmes, Group Chief Executive Officer, ESG, adds: "This innovative partnership between ESG and SAFC demonstrates how learning providers are responding to employer needs and delivering skills in the workplace that are tailored to the requirements of individual businesses.

"The Hospitality Academy at SAFC provides staff and apprentices with fantastic opportunities to achieve qualifications that enable them to progress in their career and this in turn enhances SAFC's Conference, Banqueting and Events service. It's a win-win."