Whitbread has confirmed its intention to create more than 1,500 'customer-facing' jobs this year as it reported further like-for-like sales growth for the half year to 2 September.

According to the hotel and restaurant operator, more than 2,000 qualifications have been achieved by its employees through its apprenticeships and skills for life programmes. During the six months to 2 September, Whitbread saw revenue increase by 14.5 per cent and underlying profit before tax grow by 28.4 per cent to nearly £152m.

The operator also revealed it had secured a pipeline of around 11,000 bedrooms that will grow its UK estate by 25 per cent. Whitbread chief executive Alan Parker, who is to be replaced on 1 November by Andy Harrison, said: "These results are testimony to the success of our initiatives to increase market share through organic network expansion and attracting more customers to our hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.

"Whitbread has performed strongly in both good times and during the recession and is well placed to grow in the current environment."