Whitbread, which owns UK-based hotel brand Premier Inn, has pledged to deepen its relations with colleges supporting young people with complex disabilities and learning difficulties.

It is now aiming to get 100 supported interns into paid employment from special needs educational establishments every year.

Whitbread has been working with specialist colleges for more than a decade and has built mini-Premier Inn hotels on site at Derwen and Hereward colleges in Oswestry and Coventry – identical to ‘real’ hotels – which operate as training facilities for students.

The hotels are indistinguishable from regular hotels, right down to ‘do not disturb’ signs on the doors and the tea and coffee-making facilities.

The tiny Premier Inns, built as part of Whitbread’s Force For Good programme, are partnership projects with the national further educational facilities, which specialise in skills training for independent living and employment for young people with disabilities and additional needs.

Young people taking part in the programme have the opportunity to undertake supported internships and go on to paid employment in Premier Inn hotels across the country.

Simon Ewins, managing director for Premier Inn and restaurants and Whitbread executive sponsor for disability inclusion said: “We welcome tens of millions of guests to our hotels and restaurants every year, lots of whom have disabilities – hidden and visible – and it’s really important they feel represented in our team member base.”

Paul Cook MBE, principal and CEO of Hereward College commented: “Being part of the Whitbread Force for Good strategy is a huge privilege for Hereward College and we are committed to continuing to work closely with Whitbread to realise the potential of this opportunity across the country.”