Hospitality is fundamental to the growth of UK economy; it employs over 3 million individuals, contributing £130 billion of economic activity and brings about £39 billion in taxes for the UK government. It is also the third largest private sector employer, representing 10 percent of UK jobs. However, the sector faces a shortage of fundamental skills, high turnover and it is often not seen as an industry that can lead to a long-term career. This must be resolved so that the hospitality sector can contribute further to sustainable economic growth and employment and also remain competitive after Brexit. It is critical for the government to increase engagement with the industry so as to gain clarity of the issues and drivers for the implementation of compelling policies. As such, UK Hospitality had recently launched its Hospitality Workforce Commission 2030 enquiry findings with recommendations, allowing government to better comprehend the fundamental relevance and potential of the hospitality industry.
This is important because the objective of the hospitality sector is to be a key contributor to economic growth in the UK, increasing at a rate of more than 5 percent each year. It also has the ability and aspiration to create then of thousands of new jobs and up to 200,000 new apprenticeships over the next five years. In addition, hospitality is one of the few industries that put out jobs across the UK. therefore it is in a perfect position to help the government attain its goal of driving growth, particularly in deprived coastal communities.
However, to attain the said objective, perspective about the hospitality industry in relation to a career path has to be changed. At present, the UK’s education system has failed to advocate the industry as a long-term option for young people. In addition, the diversity of the workforce within the hospitality sector will have to be taken into account as well. The industry being the second largest employer of EU workers, hence challenges in hiring across diverse groups will have to be considered. Therefore, there is a critical need to collaborate with the government for the establishment of post-Brexit immigration policy to make certain that the industry is able to recruit the necessary workforce for future progression.
Source: LinkedIn
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