From fringe to freshers: how Edinburgh shapes the hospitality workforce

Edinburgh’s hospitality industry is unlike any other. It thrives year-round, adapting to waves of festivalgoers, business travellers, sports fans and winter tourists. The city’s footfall makes it a high pressure environment for hospitality professionals, offering an immersive learning experience that accelerates skills development in a way few other locations can match. For those who step into Edinburgh’s fast-paced hospitality sector, the experience demands adaptability and sharpens their ability to manage intense service periods, complex revenue streams, and, most importantly, guest experience. The hospitality sector in Edinburgh is shaped by its high-intensity calendar. The summer months bring Edinburgh’s summer festivals, the largest gathering of arts events anywhere in the world, which sees the city’s population double, while Hogmanay welcomes thousands of revellers for one of the world’s most iconic New Year celebrations. Beyond these major events, the city experiences frequent surges in visitor numbers driven by international rugby matches at Murrayfield, large-scale concerts, and a packed academic and conference calendar that brings delegates from around the world. These layers of demand add complexity to planning and require operators to stay agile and responsive. Hotels, bars, and restaurants must be ready to scale up rapidly, fine-tune efficiency, and deliver exceptional service under pressure. This environment isn’t just challenging; it is an invaluable training ground. Hospitality professionals working in Edinburgh must develop adaptability, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills at an accelerated rate. From managing back-to-back high-capacity bookings to navigating the demands of VIP guests, the exposure to diverse challenges prepares individuals for long-term careers in the industry. One of the biggest misconceptions about hospitality is that it is a transient job rather than a career. However, Edinburgh’s industry landscape challenges this perception. The UK hospitality sector is projected to grow by 12% in 2025 1 , with businesses increasingly investing in talent retention and career progression. Salaries across the sector have seen steady post pandemic growth, reflecting the ongoing recognition of our skilled employees. Moreover, the sector offers diverse career paths, from hotel management and revenue operations to human resources and event planning. Programmes like Hospitality Workforce Strategy and wider industry apprenticeships are helping to bridge the skills gap, offering clear development pathways that encourage professionals to see hospitality as a long-term, fulfilling career. At the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, for example, early engagement initiatives such as our partnership with local education institutions like Gracemount High School offer students a real-world introduction to hospitality careers, helping to build awareness, aspiration and access from a younger age. At the end of the day, hands-on experience in hospitality is invaluable. There is no substitute for working through a fully booked summer, learning the intricacies of guest management during peak tourist season, or handling high-profile events with precision. The fast-paced nature of the job builds resilience, critical thinking, and leadership skills in ways that a classroom cannot replicate. Despite these opportunities, staff retention remains a challenge. While salaries have improved, only 56% of hospitality workers in the UK are satisfied with their pay 2, highlighting a need for further investment in employee benefits, mental health support, and career development programmes. Businesses that prioritise professional growth through mentoring, structured training, and leadership development will be better positioned to retain skilled employees who might otherwise see hospitality as a temporary stopgap rather than a long-term profession. In my own experience overseeing commercial and hospitality services at the University of Edinburgh, I have seen first-hand how vital it is to combine this hands-on exposure with structured professional development to nurture long-term careers. Investing in hands-on learning, career development, and workforce wellbeing is not just beneficial for employees – it is essential for the future of the industry. Those who operate in Edinburgh's ‘always-on’ environment don’t just cope with pressure, they become highly adaptable leaders, able to anticipate guest needs, solve problems creatively, and drive continuous service improvement. These qualities make them invaluable assets to an industry that is evolving rapidly, and by looking to Edinburgh as a model, hospitality businesses can create an environment where employees don’t just endure the fast pace; they thrive in it.

From fringe to freshers: how Edinburgh shapes the hospitality workforce

By Carina Svensen, the executive director of commercial and residential services at the University of Edinburgh

Check out our weekly podcast: 'Checking In by Hotel Owner'

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