UK Hospitality Workforce Commission

Earlier this year Youth Employment UK Ambassador Courtney gave evidence to the  UK Hospitality Workforce Commission 2030 regarding the reputation of the hospitality amongst young people, we are delighted to see Courtney’s voice and experience be heard and taking forward as part of the recommendations.

Download the full report here

The hospitality sector

The sector employs 3.2 million people, produces £130 billion of economic activity, represents 10% of the UK workforce is one of the only sectors to have roles in every constituency in the UK. On top of this the sector aims to create an additional 66,000 new jobs and up to 200,000 new apprenticeships over the next five years.

With the size and growth of the sector set to increase there is work to do to encourage more people, particularly young people in to the sector.

Recommendations:

Recruitment and retention 

1. A cross-industry, national campaign to eliminate negative perceptions of hospitality careers

2. DWP/industry collaboration to showcase careers information and the ‘best face of the industry’

3. Adapt schools outreach to enable direct dialogue between hospitality businesses and students

Skills and workplace learning

4. Industry to attract and retain employees via lifelong learning and on-the-job training

5. Government should promote and value the benefits and transferability of ‘soft skills’

6. Conduct an urgent review of the effectiveness of the Apprenticeship Levy, increase the transfer fund cap to 50% and tackle the costs of off-the-job training

Diversity

7. Immigration policy must be evidenced-based, tailored to hospitality workforce needs

8. Industry to achieve greater workforce diversity best practice through employment contract flexibility

9. Government support for workforce upskilling to encourage older and ‘harder to place’ workers into the sector, or back into employment

Discover Youth Friendly Employers

Email us at info@youthemployment.org.uk or call 01536 513388.

Early careers strategy support

Youth Employment UK Membership is a strategic step for organisations of all sizes who want support and recognition for their commitment to creating quality early career opportunities in line with Good Youth Employment Standards.

Membership Contact Us

Already a Member?

   

As experts on youth employment and co-founders of the Youth Employment Group, we are ideally placed to understand the complex landscape facing young people, employers and policy makers.