Whitbread’s Thrive programme sets national example for inclusive employment
Business-led initiative expands to Liverpool City Region, offering a blueprint for tackling disability employment gaps
Whitbread, the UK’s largest hospitality company and owner of Premier Inn, has expanded its Thrive programme—a pioneering, employer-led initiative supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into work—into the Liverpool City Region.
The expansion includes a new mini-Premier Inn training facility at Wirral Met College, where students gain hands-on experience in hospitality roles.
Completely indistinguishable from a regular hotel, right down to ‘do not disturb’ signs on the doors and the tea and coffee making facilities Premier Inn guests are familiar with, it features three en-suite bedrooms, a reception desk, corridor and linen room.
With only 4.8% of people with learning difficulties in paid employment, Thrive offers a scalable, practical model for how businesses can help close the disability employment gap. The programme helps scores of young learners nationwide and puts Whitbread firmly on the path to achieving its ambition of 100 supported internships from special needs educational establishments into paid employment every year.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to bring Thrive to the Liverpool City Region. Thrive shows how businesses can lead the way in making jobs more accessible to everyone,” said Simon Ewins, Managing Director of Premier Inn UK Hotels & Restaurants. “We believe there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. Thrive shows how the private sector can meet the moment: It’s not just a corporate initiative—it’s a real-world demonstration of how inclusive employment can work at scale. Huge thanks to everyone who have worked so hard on this project, in particular CLC Group and Holden & Lee who have made the build a reality.”
Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “I’m delighted to see a major company like Whitbread finding innovative ways to help close the disability employment gap and unlock the huge benefits of work for disabled people. Alongside our historic £1 billion investment in disability employment support, programmes such as Thrive show that together, business and government can break down barriers and give disabled people the opportunities they deserve.”
The programme is expected to support an additional 36 students annually in the Liverpool City Region, with many progressing into supported internships or permanent roles.
Gill Banks, Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Whitbread to bring the Thrive programme to Wirral Met College and the Liverpool City Region. This collaboration between education and industry provides young people with SEND the opportunity to develop practical, real-world skills in a setting where they feel safe, supported and valued. With access to the fully equipped, on-site Premier Inn training facility at our Conway Park Campus, students will build confidence and gain the experience they need to take meaningful steps towards employment. It’s a wonderful step forward in creating a more inclusive future for everyone.”
As the Government seeks to reduce economic inactivity and improve employment outcomes for disabled people, Thrive aligns with national ambitions and demonstrates how inclusive employment can be both socially impactful and commercially viable — offering a model that other businesses can learn from and adopt.
Thrive is part of Whitbread’s Force for Good programme and has already helped hundreds of young people into work in Premier Inn hotels and beyond.
To learn more or express interest in partnering, visit the Thrive page on the Whitbread website.
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