British Hospitality & Tourism Summit 2013: Spotlight on job creation
The job opportunities include 14,832 permanent roles, 11,103 apprenticeships and 5,157 paid university work placements – all of which come from pledges made by hotels that attended a series of nine ‘Big Hospitality Conversation’ events which have taken place over the past 12 months.
The BHA will inform the Minister of State for Employment, Mark Hoban, of the pledges at today’s Hospitality and Tourism Summit, which takes place at the InterContinental London Park Lane with a line-up of speakers and guests including industry leaders and other senior Government ministers.
“The BHA is galvanising the industry to invest in our best resource - our young people - and from the response we have received so far this is happening,” said the BHA’s chief executive Ufi Ibrahim.
“It’s a powerful message to take to Government.”
Patrick Dempsey, the managing director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants and a driving force behind the Big Hospitality Conversation, added: “The industry has very many job vacancies for young people and the unemployed. The hospitality industry can give you a rewarding and meaningful career - if only more young people realised this.”
Job creation challenge
Over 1,200 industry representatives attended the Big Hospitality Conversations including the largest hospitality organisations in the UK such as Whitbread, Accor, Hilton and Le Manoir aux Quait' Saisons.
Alongside these events, the BHA is challenging every tourism and hospitality business in the UK to pledge to employ more people aged between 18 and 24 or to offer apprenticeships and paid university student work placements. The campaign will continue in the autumn.
Employment Minister Hoban concluded: “The collaboration between Jobcentre Plus and the British Hospitality Association has been extremely successful, and it's fantastic to see the industry come together today with a further pledge to create 30,000 opportunities for young people.
“The hospitality industry provides a diverse range of career prospects for people of all ages, but particularly for young people who are starting out and still exploring what career path they would like to take. I'd encourage young people to seize these opportunities."
The second BHA Summit is taking place at the InterContinental Park Lane today. Stay tuned to BigHosptiality for a full report from the day and follow us on Twitter (@BigHospitality) for live updates.
