Last week, the hospitality industry gathered in the House of Commons for its fourth Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week.
A wide range of companies including Stonegate Pub Company, Tennent Caledonian Brewery, UK Hospitality, Fuller’s, Greene King, HIT Training, Pizza Express, Yo Sushi, Marriott Hotels, The Deltic Group, Martston’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Umbrella Training, British Beer and Pub Association, Beds & Bars, Global Brands Ltd, Sodexo, Brewhouse & Kitchen, British Institute of Innkeeping, Bath Ales, UK Spirits Alliance, Bourne Leisure, UK Hospitality and PPHE Hotel Group, gathered in the House of Commons to showcase their skills and celebrate an incredible industry.
Apprentices took to the spotlight to exhibit various skills from pulling the perfect pint, pancake making, cake decorating, pasta and pizza dough making to name a few, in front of Members of Parliament.
Already this year, the UK has seen over 10,000 people lose their job in High Street retail, yet the hospitality industry struggles to fill roles across the country. The initiative aims to call for Better Government Support and showcase the incredible work within the sector and major players in the industry gathered to spread this message to the Government.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Helen Whately MP, also attended the event to offer her support and congratulate apprentices from across the hospitality sector and welcomed the ongoing commitment from industry in support of the Tourism Sector Deal.
Hosted by Mike Wood MP and Keith Knowles OBE, Chairman of Perceptions Group and CEO of the international company, Beds and Bars, Keith commented: “When you think hospitality, you think of roles such as bar team, waiting staff, chefs and cleaners. Yet employers within the hospitality offer hundreds of opportunities and nurture talent across all business disciplines. All supported by clear, structured career paths.
“It’s time the government recognised that collectively this industry is the third largest UK employer, creating one in six of all new jobs.”
Lee Woolley, Head of Learning and Organisation Development for Stonegate Pub Company, said: :The stark reality is we need people across all disciplines, currently we have some fantastic vacancies for Brand Managers – not a role that would immediately spring to mind when you think hospitality, but roles we are finding increasingly difficult to fill.”
Hospitality supports 3.2million jobs, represents 10% of the economy’s employment, 6% of businesses and 5% of GDP, making hospitality the third largest private sector employer, double the size of financial services industry and bigger than the automotive, pharmaceuticals and aerospace sectors combined.
So, it’s little wonder that over 200 representatives went to meet their MPs to celebrate the industry and ask for support for the continued growth of the sector.
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