We call on the UK Government to formally recognise hospitality as a skilled and respected career pathway and to actively promote it within secondary education, careers guidance, and youth employment programmes.
Hospitality is the third largest employer in the UK, yet it is significantly under-represented in schools and government-supported career pathways. As a result, many young people are not encouraged to consider an industry that offers long-term, skilled, and fulfilling careers with clear progression opportunities.
Following Brexit, COVID-19, and recent changes to visa policy, the hospitality sector is facing a severe and ongoing skills shortage. Historically, the industry relied heavily on overseas workers from countries where hospitality is more widely viewed as a profession. That pipeline has reduced dramatically, while domestic recruitment has not been sufficiently supported.
At the same time, youth unemployment is rising, with tens of thousands more young people out of work compared to the previous year. Despite this, hospitality roles are frequently declined or dismissed when presented through schools or government employment services, reinforcing outdated perceptions that hospitality is unskilled, low-value, or unsuitable as a long-term career.
This perception is harmful to both the industry and young people. Hospitality develops highly transferable life skills including leadership, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, financial awareness, resilience, empathy, and confidence. Careers can progress into roles such as chefs, restaurateurs, finance, marketers, Directors, CEOs, Brand Managers, the list is endless. Both in the UK and internationally. The sector is open to people of varied academic abilities and backgrounds, and can provide either lifelong careers or strong foundations for success in other industries.
Hospitality is not merely transactional; it is built on the skill of how we make people feel. These are human, commercial, and leadership skills that should be valued as part of the UK’s national skills strategy.
We therefore urge the Government to:
Formally recognise hospitality as a skilled profession within national skills frameworks.
Embed hospitality careers education into secondary schools, particularly at GCSE decision stage.
Ensure Jobcentres and employment services present hospitality as a credible and aspirational career option.
Work with industry leaders to rebuild a domestic talent pipeline while addressing youth unemployment.
Support partnerships between schools and hospitality professionals to provide meaningful career insight and role models.
By changing perceptions and policy, the Government can support young people into work while strengthening one of the UK’s most important industries. Hospitality deserves recognition as the skilled profession it truly is.