A new charitable foundation called Edge is set to launch the first fully commercial hospitality teaching centre in central London.

The foundation anticipates training up to 300 students per year in practical courses ranging from NVQs to management-level degrees.

The training school will include a meeting room, spa and beauty facilities and a restaurant.

Edge is currently in negotiations over a suitable site for the proposed 30 to 40-bedroom vocational training hotel, which is expected to open within two years of site procurement.

In addition, the company is in talks with potential operators, including the Stein Group, which currently operates a hotel school in Amsterdam.

Proceeds from the teaching hotel will fund further schools in major UK cities, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Edge chair Gary Hawkes said: “Students will experience exactly what is required in a hotel workplace and future employers will benefit from new employees with solid experience of a range of hospitality industry skills rather than mere paper qualifications.” Details: www.edge.co.uk

Photograph: Edge chair Garry Hawkes