UKH releases guide to improve recruitment

Created in partnership with the Strategic Development Network, the guide showcases how investing in skills and talent at an education level could help businesses discover new talent, develop existing teams, create new partnerships and increase work within the community.

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Investing in developing our own pipeline of talent has never been more important and this guide offers a wealth of information on how to do just that, in a way that works for your business.

“Whether it’s taking on an apprentice, offering workplace experiences through a local school or providing expert guidance to teachers, there are now so many ways to engage that benefit recruitment and staffing in the long-term.

Career offering 

“UKHospitality set out in its Workforce Strategy the need to make these sorts of initiatives and qualifications more widespread and it’s really encouraging that we now see so many businesses heavily engaged in skills and training.”

Additionally, the accompanying Index shows step-by-step the different ways businesses can get involved, outlining the level of commitment required and the benefits from participating.

Nicholls added: “There aren’t many sectors that can rival hospitality’s career offering with the variety of roles available and the buzz it offers, along with the prospect of going from bar to board in a matter of years.”

Moreover, the guide includes success stories from people working in the sector about how developing their skills and training has helped them progress, including examples from Greene King, HIT Training, Marriott Hotels and Umbrella Training.

Next generation of talent 

This comes as recent data from HIT training​ showed hospitality businesses that invest in and prioritise workers’ wellbeing were more likely to retain teams for longer.

UKHospitality skills director Sandra Kelly said: “The education landscape is ever-changing and it can be complex to navigate, for both students and employers.

“That does mean there are hundreds of entry points to get involved, particularly with the introduction of hospitality T-Levels this year.

“UKHospitality has worked very closely with the Strategic Development Network to produce this guide dedicated for hospitality and we’re excited to go even further in how we can help businesses develop their next generation of talent.”