Industry unites to encourage uptake in hospitality careers
Senior industry leaders have united in a programme of autumn school visits designed to encourage more young people to consider a career in hospitality.
Compass, Elior, Punch Pubs, Sodexo and Nestlé Professional® will join Kate Nicholls OBE, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, and Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, visiting schools across the UK to help improve the perception of hospitality careers.
The school visits mark the start of a big recruitment drive by the Choose Hospitality Pledge. Co-founded by Nestlé Professional, Choose Hospitality and Springboard CareerScope, the Choose Hospitality Pledge is seeking motivated ambassadors to help educate secondary students about the industry’s wide range of entry-level roles and training opportunities, the breadth of roles available – dispelling the ‘only chef or waiter’ myth – as well as the many career pathways on offer.
Commenting on the new school’s programme this autumn, Nestlé Professional managing director, Katya Simmons, said:
“Hospitality businesses are more than twice as likely than other industries to experience challenges filling vacancies[1]. To address this, we are leading an industry alliance urging hospitality ambassadors to step forward and promote the industry to young people. The Pledge has been created by us with Choose Hospitality and Springboard CareerScope, and is garnering support from a growing number of hospitality and industry leaders.
“Together with our founding partners, we’re galvanising the hospitality industry in the UK to unite and help tackle the recruitment challenge. We’re calling on industry to sign up to the Pledge as ambassadors and visit their local secondary schools. Ambassadors will be equipped with campaign toolkits and props to engage with schoolchildren and demonstrate the exciting opportunities that exist in our industry. Now is the time for people who have carved out a career in the industry to give something back.”
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls OBE said:
“As the third largest private sector employer in the UK, it’s essential that we shine a light on the fantastic career opportunities that hospitality can provide, and education plays a key role in attracting the next generation of British talent. While only 10% of jobs in hospitality are currently recognised by the UK government as skilled, our industry is filled with highly trained and motivated professionals, and more roles need to be recognised to ensure we continue to attract young workers to the hugely rewarding careers on offer and bring in the skills that we need.”
The Choose Hospitality Pledge gives school leavers the opportunity to experience how dynamic, rewarding and exciting the sector is as a career. It aims to reshape perceptions of the hospitality sector and ignite a passion for careers among young people.
To give back to your profession by inspiring the next generation of talent, please register as a Choose Hospitality Pledge ambassador by visiting: https://my.careerscope.uk.net/ambassador-signup.
Our Summer Raffle Winners!
A huge thank you to all of those who donated a prize to Springboard’s Summer Raffle and to those of you who bought a ticket. All profits from the Summer Raffle will support us to help young and unemployed people obtain hospitality and employability skills in order to start a promising career in hospitality, to achieve our goal of getting 10,000 young people into employment by 2022 and futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality.
Now it’s time to announce and congratulate our winners:
| One night stay with breakfast at an Apex London Hotel for two – Vince Pearson |
| One year subscription to The Caterer – Tim Adams |
| The Good Egg Bagel Box – Gwaine Cook |
| Overnight stay with breakfast at The Dorchester for two – Vince Pearson |
| Black Label Johnnie Walker Whiskey – Jacqueline Pool |
| Overnight Suite Stay at The Berkeley, inclusive of welcome champagne and breakfast – Simon Lewis |
| One night luxury stay with dinner at Cameron House Loch Lomond – Louise Stoba |
| Walk across the O2 Experience – Vince Pearson |
| An overnight stay for two in a Stables Superior Room with dinner and breakfast at Coworth Park – Colm Kelly |
| Annual family membership for National Trust Scotland – Liz Hartstone |
| Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve NV in Magnum – Graham Adlard |
| Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Savoy – Vince Pearson |
| One night stay for two in Studio Suite at Royal Lancaster London – Liz Hartstone |
| TEMPLESPA’s multi-award winning TRUFFLE skincare – Calum Harkiss |
| London Cocktail Club package for two – Helen Collingbourne |
| Dinner for two at The Classroom – Christa Heydon |
| Two night mid-week stay any Jury’s Inn Hotel – Hannah Horler |
Enjoy your incredible prizes!
Savoy Educational Trust helps futureproof hospitality workforce with £1m grant to Springboard
The Savoy Educational Trust has awarded a £1m grant to The Springboard Charity in support of the charity’s Springboard to 2022 – Futureproofing the Talent Pipeline for Hospitality project.
The £1m grant is the single largest award ever made by Trustees in its 60-year history and will directly help 1,000 young people into work across the hospitality industry over the next 18 months.
Springboard’s latest project – Springboard to 2022 – aims to train and support 10,000 young people into work in hospitality by December 2022, in line with the industry’s recovery post-COVID-19.
The forecasted cost to deliver the project is £5m with the Savoy Educational Trust coming on board as one of its biggest supporters.
The project will help turn around the ongoing skills shortage across the industry, which is expected to be impacted further by Brexit and the Coronavirus pandemic.
Although a significant grant, this is just one part of the ongoing commitment the Trust continues to make to the hospitality industry, with their current funding for education, associations, charities, training and recognising talent through industry competitions.
Julia Sibley, Chief Executive of The Savoy Educational Trust, said: “Since its inception, the Savoy Educational Trust has played a key role in providing funds to a wide array of educational projects within the hospitality industry. The Trustees are very concerned for the industry in light of the pandemic and are really keen to be able to give financial support to an initiative that will protect the future careers of the young people who make up such a large percentage of the hospitality workforce. They are proud to support Springboard to 2022 – Futureproofing Hospitality’s talent pipeline.”
Chris Gamm, chief executive of Springboard, said: “Springboard is delighted to be working with the Savoy Educational Trust as lead partner in Springboard to 2022. Young people are the future of the hospitality industry, and training and supporting 10,000 of them into jobs in hospitality will play a significant part in futureproofing the industry’s talent pipeline and addressing its long-term staffing crisis. The investment will enable Springboard to directly train and support 1,000 young people into traineeships, apprenticeships and direct employment by April 2022, as well as playing a key role in the delivery of the total target.”
The Trust has been a supporter of Springboard for more than 20 years and has awarded considerable funding for their FutureChef programme and the GEMS mentoring scheme.
For more information on Springboard to 2022, visit here.
Springboard is recruiting!
Springboard is recruiting for 17 new roles to support the delivery of its Springboard to 2022 programme, which will get 10,000 young people into work in hospitality as it recovers over the next 18 months.
Springboard to 2022 is the industry solution to tackling hospitality, leisure and tourism’s long-term staffing crisis. It will give the industry space to focus on rebuilding from the coronavirus pandemic, while Springboard ensures there is a skilled and engaged talent pipeline ready for when the industry needs it. Springboard’s goal is to have 10,000 young people trained and ready for work, in line with the industry’s recovery, by 2022.
Chris Gamm, Springboard’s chief executive, said: “‘We have transformed the organisation to respond to the needs of the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry now and in the future and we are looking for brilliant people all over the UK to join us to support the sector’s recovery. This includes trainers, programme managers, marketeers, sales people, project coordinators and those looking to help with our mission to futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality.”
The 17 roles are based around the UK, predominantly on 12-month fixed-term contracts. To find out more about any of these roles, click on one of the below links:
Careers, Education & Employability Programme Delivery Manager (North West) – Manchester – Indeed.com
Deadline extended until end of month for Springboard’s Virtual Awards for Excellence
Springboard UK has extended the entry deadline for its annual Awards for Excellence until Friday 29 January.
Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard UK, said: “We’ve been blown away by the amazing, inspirational entries already received for Springboard’s Virtual Awards for Excellence, but with the challenges businesses are facing right now, a few have asked for a little more time. Therefore, we are pleased to say that we will be extending the submission deadline to give even more businesses the opportunity to showcase their best practice, resilience and outstanding contributions.
“It’s been a hugely challenging year for hospitality, but we’ve seen some amazing innovation: from the way businesses operate, market themselves, and develop their teams, to the way they look after their people and unlock new opportunities. This is the chance to recognise your colleagues, team, or the people you do business with and I encourage you to use the additional time to enter.”
The awards are open to any hospitality business that is proud of their achievements over the past year. This year there is also the option for businesses or members of the public to nominate another deserving business or individual.
New to this year, the awards will include additional categories to showcase businesses and employees who have gone above and beyond, demonstrating the ability to quickly adapt and implement new, successful initiatives in order to support their employees and communities during the pandemic.
There are 16 different awards to choose from falling under the main categories of Staff Support, Business Innovation and Community. The most impressive entries in each category will be presented virtually in March.
The Awards will be an opportunity for companies to build their employer brand and gain industry recognition – all the while supporting the Springboard Charity.
To enter, or find out more about The Springboard Awards for Excellence, visit https://springboard.uk.net/awards
Springboard launches new programme in the Midlands to support jobseekers in areas hit hardest by Coronavirus
The new Support into Work Programme to assist hospitality workers in Birmingham and Leicester who are struggling to find work as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While job opportunities in hospitality remain limited, a new two-week, virtually delivered course will help individuals to secure short-term, interim roles in sectors including retail, transport and logistics. The course will be free of charge and the support offered includes workshops on demonstrating transferrable skills to secure roles in allied sectors, alongside help with job searches, CV development, applications and interview processes. Candidates will also receive mental health support to help them manage the emotional challenges of job seeking in the current climate.
In October 2020 the Hilton Effect Foundation announced Springboard as one of its grantees, jumpstarting the development and roll-out of the first ever Support into Work Programme. The course will be the first in a series of regionally targeted initiatives to support hospitality workers impacted by the pandemic. It will begin on the 23rd November and is open for applications. To ensure the support reaches as many people as possible, there are also self-taught modules which will be made available to hospitality workers looking for help securing an interim role in another industry.
With unemployment rates particularly high in Birmingham and Leicester, the Support into Work Programme will provide vital support for local residents looking for new employment opportunities. Hospitality workers have so many valuable, transferrable skills, and this course will be perfect for anyone in need of guidance to secure an interim role until the hospitality industry is thriving again.
Stephen Cassidy, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, UK and Ireland, Hilton, said: “Even before the pandemic, Springboard’s services were a lifeline for people of all ages and backgrounds looking to kick start a career in hospitality. Now, with the hospitality industry facing its toughest period in a generation, their services are in higher demand than ever before. This programme will provide a helping hand to some of the many hardworking, dedicated people struggling to find work, and we’re delighted to support such a valuable initiative.”
Springboard is one of 23 recipients globally to receive a Hilton Effect Grant, which aims to address some of the most urgent humanitarian needs arising from the pandemic including economic security, sanitation/hygiene, food security and clean air and water.
To check eligibility and find out more about Springboard’s Support into Work Programme, please visit https://springboard.uk.net/siw/
WSET launches online exams to enhance digital learning for students
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world’s largest global provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications, has announced that it is introducing online exams for its English language Level 1 Awards in Wines, Spirits and Sake* and its Level 2 Awards in Wines and Spirits, with effect from 1st June 2020. This development forms part of WSET’s ongoing digital strategy, enabling as many students as possible to continue with their learning during the current COVID-19 crisis.
Although students can currently take the majority of WSET courses online**, until now they have had to sit an offline exam to complete a WSET qualification. With social distancing guidelines in place across most of the world, many exams have been cancelled or postponed until the situation changes. The introduction of online exams means that students can now study for, and complete, WSET’s English language Level 1 and 2 qualifications from home. This gives them the flexibility to study for, and take, their exams anywhere in the world.
WSET’s online exams are carried out using remote invigilation. Remote invigilation enables students to sit their exam at home on a computer whilst monitored via webcam, screen sharing technology and a secondary recording device (usually a smartphone). The remotely invigilated online exams in English have been successfully piloted and will be rolled out through WSET’s network of 800 plus course providers across the world. Students will still have the option to sit a traditional paper-based classroom exam if that is their preference. WSET is also continuing to develop computer-based testing to enable students to sit exams online in the classroom with their local course provider.
Ian Harris, WSET CEO, said, “I am really excited that, with these latest developments, we can now offer our course providers and students a 360° digital learning experience at a time when traditional classroom education is very challenging or impossible. The integrity of our exams is of the utmost importance to us and we are confident that the award-winning remote invigilation system we have in place meets our stringent standards. At a time when many people in the industry have much more time at their disposal, it’s great that they can choose to upgrade their drinks knowledge, studying and qualifying for a WSET qualification without leaving home.
Online programmes are never going to completely replace the classroom environment, but they give us another very important string to our bow in the short-term, and will be a valuable add-on for us to offer in the longer term, extending the global reach of WSET in the post-COVID era.” To learn more about WSET’s online courses visit WSETglobal.com
Call to the Government to Support the Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry has been battered and bruised recently – just a few weeks ago, it was facing chronic labour shortages following the introduction of an ‘immigration points system’, which will make hiring and retaining staff from mainland Europe no longer economically viable for the majority of businesses in this sector. For an industry which had been powered by a third of its workforce coming from mainland Europe, this instilled fears of how their businesses would continue to operate given the fact that the UK was almost in full employment and less young people were entering the industry because of demographics. Coupled with this was a blow to the credibility of hospitality as a career choice, with the bizarre labelling of several of the job roles as ‘unskilled’.
The hospitality, tourism and events industry has now been completely devastated by an even bigger threat – Coronavirus – its impact is immediate and deep. Already, a number of businesses are going into administration, and many others are only just managing to keep their heads above water, as this storm continues to rage.
With travel sanctions now in place and a general drop in footfall due to Coronavirus concerns, including social distancing and people self-isolating with potential Coronavirus symptoms, the industry is having to make tough decisions. Yesterday’s comment from the PM urging people to avoid restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, et al without reassurances on what support was available for these businesses and many finding out that their insurance is useless in these situations – this could be the nail in the coffin for potentially thousands of businesses of all sizes.
We need our industry to not only survive this, but to thrive. Dramatic action needs to be taken by the Government to protect these businesses and the jobs of millions of workers. If you want your favourite pub, restaurant, coffee shop, hotel, bar, etc to still be there for you when you come out of your homes and back into the ‘real world’, call on the government to support them now before it’s too late. Please sign the petition