Learning provider serves up succession skills for Scotland’s hospitality sector
An Edinburgh-based learning provider is strengthening Scotland’s hospitality sector by delivering hundreds of successful apprenticeships and creating industry leaders.
Collaborating with restaurants, cafés, care homes, leisure parks and global luxury hotel brands, the provider is addressing skills gaps, retaining talent and building a sustainable pipeline of hospitality leaders.
Xtra-Mile.com has developed succession planning for luxury hotels, including the Fairmont St Andrews and The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, and an accelerated route to senior roles at the Dakota Hotel Group.
Xtra-Mile Managing Director Anneliese Archibald said: “Apprentices are vital to Scotland. We need to address skills gaps, and we will do anything we can to support the industry.”
Xtra-Mile.com offers all major hospitality qualifications and, in response to employer demand, introduced a new management apprenticeship for those in marketing, sales and maintenance jobs.
In 2019, it created its Junior Hotelier apprenticeship programme for young people who work in larger hotels like the Fairmont St Andrews.
Anneliese explained: “To address succession planning and identify staff for future leadership roles, we developed a programme where apprentices worked in every area of the hotel. It has been a huge success, and candidates continue to be recruited annually.”
The apprenticeship programme has also been adopted by The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh where Quality and Development Manager Aitziber Garcia-Barbero said it has made a “significant contribution” to its workforce.
Aitziber said: “Apprentices have shown increased confidence, capability and progression, adding measurable value to our organisation. Xtra-Mile is an exemplary provider and their programme represents best practice within the sector.”
Lead More, Achieve More has been introduced in response to the Dakota Hotel Group’s request for a bespoke, accelerated programme for apprentices to advance to senior roles.
Open Days at employer venues are an informal way for staff to find out more about apprenticeships and meet the Xtra-Mile team.
Anneliese said: “Our apprentices are so involved – they get to choose their units and can change them throughout the apprenticeship to meet their needs. I say to everyone that it’s the most flexible qualification they’ll ever do, as it’s managed by them.
“We’re one of the few providers who do assessments face-to-face every four to five weeks, which builds strong relationships, and we also mentor apprentices to identify barriers to success.”
Job swaps help broaden experience, as Anneliese explained: “We have a head chef from a popular coffee shop – Aroma Coffee in Wishaw – who is doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Hospitality, Supervision and Leadership. She’ll spend time at the Dakota Edinburgh, including working a shift in the kitchen.
“Aroma Coffee’s owner is so supportive and understands how important it is for her development and ambitions.”
Since 2016, Xtra-Mile.com has supported more than 670 Modern Apprentices, achieving completion rates of over 92% in the last four years. Currently, it has 85 candidates on its programme with a 97.7% achievement rate as of September 2025.
Apprenticeships are working for Scotland by creating careers and enabling people to reach their potential, supporting employers to develop and grow their workforce and getting real returns for the economy.
There are currently around 12,000 apprentice employers in Scotland, investing in over 40,000 Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprentices.
Anneliese added: “Apprenticeships close skills gaps and give people real value for doing their job well, with clear potential for progression.
“Every apprentice has told us their confidence has grown significantly, and that’s the most rewarding part. Watching them blossom is fantastic.”
Xtra-Mile.com is a finalist in the Leading in Learning Provision category at this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Awards in association with SP Energy Networks.
The awards take place on 26 February as the launch event for Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2 to 6 March).
Find out more about the award finalists and the event by visiting apprenticeships.scot/awards
