I've only just come across this story, so apologies if I'm sharing old news. However, at a time when students have to work harder than ever to make ends meet, this initiative by Travelodge is an example of an employer brand making great use of its infrastructure to support them to do that and study well.
This is particularly interesting (and welcome) given today's news from Universities UK and the NUS of a drive to close the attainment gap between BAME and non-BAME students in higher education. Finances and engagement with education are linked and challenges around the former inevitably lead to challenges in the latter. Certainly research I've done in the past with BAME students suggests that economics do play a role in attainment for this group, as well influencing their decision-making around whether to continue on to post-grad studies.
Well done Travelodge!
Travelodge, the UK’s first branded budget hotel chain, which operates over 560 UK hotels, launches a new dual workplace programme offering 3,000 jobs (2,200 permanent positions and 800 summer season jobs across the UK) to Britain’s 2 million students who are struggling to make ends meet. This bespoke programme is the first of its kind to offer students a permanent job with flexible working hours designed around their study programme in their university and home locations. It also offers a work buddy and access to the in-house management development programme called Aspire, so that students can expand their skill set whilst studying.
