Hospitality needs to inspire the next generation to thrive

The last few years have certainly been challenging for the Hospitality sector and with rising utility bills, a cost-of-living crisis, supply chain issues and staff shortages, it doesn’t appear as though the next 12 months will prove to be that much easier.

However, with a challenge comes opportunity, and for hospitality leaders with a ‘glass half-full’ approach, there is certainly much to gain during 2023 – particularly when it comes to inspiring the next generation of talent.

Prior to Brexit, the UK benefited from a talented, international workforce who flocked to Britain for want of competitive wages and a taste of British life. However, the fallout of Brexit combined with the outbreak of Covid-19 resulted in a mass decrease in EU workers, with the hospitality industry losing a whopping 200,000 international employees between late 2019 and mid-2022.

Industry reports have since revealed that there were 172,000 EU citizens working in the hospitality sector as of autumn 2022, which is a drop of 41% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Reviewing these figures, it’s certainly no surprise that the UK hospitality sector is struggling to source staff, with many establishments now having to alter opening hours and reduce their trade and income, as a result.

Interestingly, while there has been a mass exodus of international workers from the hospitality sector, there is a growing pool of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds in Britain – many of whom could thrive in hospitality, given the opportunity, inspiration, and necessary guidance.

One of the main issues, however, is that unlike in locations such as France and Italy where front of house and waiting roles are perceived as prestigious career paths, working in hospitality within the UK is synonymous with pot washing, glass collection and unsociable hours which certainly doesn’t inspire many. As such, the industry is rife with part-timers, who never perceive their role as something long-term and perhaps don’t realise their importance – particularly if they aren’t treated as though they truly matter.

It could be argued, therefore, that even though Brexit and Covid-19 have certainly created a staffing and resource challenge, both historical events have also created an opportunity for the sector to reset, to re-inspire, and to bring about positive change.

Ultimately, the future of hospitality is reliant on the next generation of talent and so it is imperative that we, as an industry, alter how we attract and inspire young people to join our businesses. 

Gone are (and should be) the days of friction between the kitchen and front of house staff, or heightened tensions caused by a simple mistake that can easily be rectified and learnt from. Hospitality should now be a place for industry leaders to engage employees in the importance of customer experience, quality standards and community engagement, where entry roles in pubs, bars and restaurants should be perceived as an opportunity to grow and thrive – both in personal and professional capacities.

A key to this is positive business culture, which in hospitality, is more important now than ever before, as the industry competes with sectors that are able to offer remote working, Christmas shutdowns and shorter working weeks.

Furthermore, as the average age of restaurant, bar and operations managers has decreased in recent years, with those now accepting positions of responsibility much younger than ever before, it is vital that venue owners, business leaders or those with greater experience take on guidance and mentoring roles. As such, the youthful managers of today should be carefully navigated through current difficulties and challenges, while ensuring they can carve a successful future that even inspires others to follow in their wake.

They say if you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life; it’s time we installed this passion into others, showed them the vibrancy, buzz and enjoyment that comes with hospitality and help people consider it as a viable, enjoyable, and fulfilling career path. In doing this, and in attracting the bright stars of the future, not only will the industry be able to overcome short-term difficulties, but it will also be able to drive growth today, tomorrow, and beyond. Hospitality starts and ends with people and it’s our job as business and industry leaders to make them feel valued, to install passion and to inspire positive change.