The Digital Apprentice Service portal allows eligible employers to select an apprentice framework, choose a provider to carry out training and post apprenticeship vacancies.

Jill Whittaker, managing director of HIT Training, said: “The Levy and the Digital Apprenticeship Service puts the control of apprenticeship schemes into the hands of employers.

As employers in the hospitality industry you can choose exactly what type of apprenticeship you want to run, the number of apprentices you want to take on and the training provider to work with which best matches your bespoke needs.  All of this, combined with the new apprenticeship standards, puts a greater focus on quality – and this can only be seen as a positive change for the sector and its ever-looming skills gap.”

The apprenticeship levy means for businesses with an annual wage bill of £3 million or more 0.5% of the total wage bill is to be used to fund apprentices.

The online portal, which can be accessed online at Gov.uk, went live following beta testing with 100 employers and providers.

Eligible employers can register here.