The Marriott Academy was established to improve the motivation and aspirations of local young people by providing them with a package of employability skills, a Level 2 NVQ in Customer Service and the opportunity of employment with Marriott Hotels.

At the same time, the Academy aimed to solve Marriott's recruitment challenges. Success for the hotel chain meant creating a cohort of 'job ready' employees with cultural awareness, appropriate knowledge, ability, skills, a positive attitude, confidence and experience.

Through the Academy, Marriott Hotels hoped to tap into a pool of up to 20 young people who had been fully trained to meet its requirements.

Participating students train for two days a week away from school, working towards a Level 2 NVQ in Customer Service. During the first term they complete two days' off-the-job training away from the workplace. From January, they undertake on-the-job training and assessment in a number of different departments for one day a week, followed by one day's off-the-job training and portfolio-building. All training is delivered and coordinated by an employee seconded from Marriott Hotels. On the remaining three days the students study complementary subjects back at school.