The National Skills Strategy was launched last year and its purpose is very simple and straightforward: get money involved and focus on three major industry gaps - provide supervisors with people qualifications, deliver great craft apprenticeships and increase service delivery skills by offering on the job training.

The current trading position is putting more and more emphasis on the need for skilled staff. Trading is getting more difficult, which makes it the best time to launch the National Skills Academy, during a boom, trade just walks in and business is not too worried. As people become choosy about where to eat or stay, this will put a premium on skilled staff.

When I commenced my career during the 60s there were two major companies who provided very good training schemes: J. Lyons and British Transport Hotels. In the 70s and 80s these companies disappeared and Trust House Forte took over. With more than 280 properties and diverse operations including motorway services, catering and hotels they effectively trained the industry. With the demise of THF during the 90s the industry became fragmented and over the past 10-12 years, less training has been done.

Similarly, during the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the education structure was very simple. School leavers who wanted to attain craft qualifications went to City & Guilds, those who left with the equivalent of A Levels chose an OND or HND and there were two degree programmes at Surrey and Strathclyde Universities. Now we have over 200 qualifications just for hospitality.

Industry, parents and students do not understand them; probity and value have been lost. After completing my degree I immediately went and did a train the trainer course. This recognised that on-the-job training was a major part of learning. I think that now we have travelled full circle as the Academy recognises this important approach.

The NSA will be responsible for delivering education and training through facilities such as hotel schools or restaurant schools, or through an 'Apex of Learning Providers' including quality assured colleges, universities and private training providers. The Edge Foundation is a major investor in the development of hotel schools, including planned sites for Manchester and Colchester. Barcelo Hotels and Bournemouth University are working together on a four star hotel school, whilst Compass Group plc and Whitbread have developed Junior Chef School for pupils aged 14-16.

We are not going to focus on building up new premises but will work with good colleges. Ideally we want one key college in each region, not just in London where we will possibly need more than one. We want good employers to help by delivering additional training to other companies and provide children with exposure to meaningful work experience. The approach will be industry led. The support of employers is central to the success of the Academy, especially in order to provide support in the delivery of programmes.

I'm extremely pleased to say that already the academy has the support of many leading companies including Barcelo hotels, Compass Group, Sodexo, InterContinental Hotels, Accor hotels and McDonalds restaurants.

I'm sure many others will join as the value of Academy training is tried, tested and proven.