PREM Group, one of Europe’s leading hotel operators, has been recognised for its new online learning programme developed to help staff members recognise the signs of potential child sex trafficking.

The programme, which won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the recent Irish HR Champions awards, was developed with MECPATHS, an Irish organisation that raises awareness within the hospitality sector of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

“This is one training programme that we hope our team members never have to put to use during the course of their work,” said Sarah Marr, Human Resources Manager, UK and Ireland at PREM Group. “We were introduced to MECPATHs last year by the Irish Hotels Federation. We were so shocked by the statistics for human trafficking for Ireland that we felt we had to do something to try to prevent it happening. The more awareness there is of this social problem, the more progress can be made in dismantling this multi-billion criminal industry. All our team members in Ireland now know the signs that could be an indication of child sex trafficking taking place and, most importantly, they know how to report their suspicions.”

The programme has been rolled out to the group’s 500 employees in Ireland with work underway for its use across its hotels and serviced apartments in the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.