Associate Member:

People 1st International

Organisation Type:
Sector Skills Body

Contact details
Address: Vertigo, Cheese Lane, Bristol, BS2 0JJ

Tel: +44 (0) 203 074 1222

People 1st International is a global leader in workforce development, renowned for its expertise in creating skilled, inclusive, and productive workforces across diverse sectors. With over 50 years of experience, the organisation partners with governments, development banks, NGOs, and private enterprises to deliver sustainable skills solutions tailored to local needs. While rooted in the UK, People 1st International’s impact spans more than 50 countries, where it has helped shape technical vocational education and training (TVET) systems, develop sector skills strategies, and promote gender equality and social inclusion.

People 1st International is part of The Workforce Development Trust, a group of sector specialists supporting workforce development, also incorporating Skills for Health, Skills for Justice and SFJ Awards. Drawing on expertise across health, justice, the protective services, retail, hospitality and more, the group supports public and private sector organisations to build skilled, adaptable workforces that meet the evolving demands of society.

People 1st International operates across a wide range of industry sectors globally, with a strong focus on service-oriented and growth-driven fields. These include hospitality, tourism, retail, aviation, and passenger transport, sectors where customer experience and workforce capability are critical. The organisation also supports skills development in leisure, travel, and digital business services, helping businesses adapt to evolving market demands.

Beyond these, People 1st International contributes to workforce strategies in education, human resources, and broader business services, often working with governments, NGOs, and development banks to strengthen vocational education and training systems. Its expertise spans both traditional and emerging industries, ensuring that workforce solutions are tailored to local contexts and global standards.

Building on its heritage as a sector skills council, it is proud to have worked in more than 50 countries to deliver responsive skills solutions that challenge social and gender exclusion, address the barriers to work and support continuous professional development.

People 1st International’s expertise includes:

Economic & social inclusion: Research, frameworks, toolkits and training to drive sustainable change to gender equality and social inclusion at an organisational, sectoral or  regional level.
TVET policy & strategy: Policy development and strategic planning of skills to build thriving technical vocational training and education systems that align to industry needs and promote economic growth.
Capability & capacity building: Skills models, standards and curriculum development to build the capability and capacity of local experts and drive sustainable approaches to skills development.
Skills solutions: Globally recognised training programmes and skills solutions to maximise the potential of the workforce and foster professional development.

People 1st International has delivered impactful skills and training initiatives across the globe, helping shape inclusive and resilient workforces.

Its international portfolio includes projects in Middle East, Central Asia, Latin and Central America, and many other global regions.

Some examples:

In Egypt, it supported the creation of the Almaza Recruitment and Training Centre to improve employment access for youth and people with disabilities. The organisation also partnered with Hyatt Regency Cairo West in Egypt to assess skills gaps and enhance training plans for hospitality staff, developing tailored curricula and capacity-building programmes to elevate service standards.

In Pakistan, People 1st International supported the government in establishing a sector skills council to strengthen vocational education and employer engagement. In Jordan, the organisation helped develop a youth inclusion training centre at Abdali Mall, enhancing access to employment for marginalised groups.

In Georgia, People 1st International worked with Lopota Lake and Spa Resort to improve human resource competencies through tailored training programmes. The organisation also worked with the British Council in Georgia to develop hospitality apprenticeships and with GIZ in Armenia to establish sector skills centres for tourism and wine production.

Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, People 1st International conducted an evaluation of national TVET programmes to inform future policy and system improvements.

In Panama, People 1st International led a UK consortium to build an employer-focused Instituto Técnico Superior Especializado (ITSE) that align with industry needs. In Mexico, it collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank to enhance employability services for young people.

The organisation contributed to gender equality in higher education systems in Peru by embedding inclusive practices into institutional frameworks.

These diverse projects reflect People 1st International’s commitment to building sustainable skills ecosystems that drive economic growth and social inclusion worldwide.

The workforce development, skills and training solutions offered by People 1st International globally include:

TVET strategy and policy development – aligned with industry needs.
Labour market intelligence – identifying skills gaps and trends.
Sector Skills Council setup – creating employer-led bodies.
National Occupational Standards development – defining competencies.
Qualification and curriculum design – building robust, industry-relevant learning.
Quality assurance and accreditation – ensuring training meets high standards.
Train-the-trainer programmes – enhancing educator and assessor capabilities.
Capability and capacity building – strengthening institutions and delivery teams.
Management and leadership training – developing effective workplace leaders.
Customer service excellence programmes – including WorldHost training.
Inclusive workforce development – integrating gender equality and disability inclusion.
Career pathway design – supporting talent attraction and progression.
Apprenticeship and traineeship models – promoting work-based learning.
Digital learning solutions – delivering flexible, scalable online training.
International consultancy services – advising on sustainable workforce strategies.