British Hospitality Association and Restaurant Association Target Restaurants and Caterers

In Next-wave of Industry's Biggest Jobs Push Big Hospitality Conversation Comes to BMA House, Tavistock Square on October 9th 2013

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. October 09, 2013

October 9, 2013 - The BHA and Restaurant Association is set to galvanise the hospitality and tourism industry to invest in young people with the latest 'Big Hospitality Conversation' which will specifically target restaurants and caterers this time around.

Set to take place in Central London on October 9th, the initiative will invite hospitality and restaurant businesses from across the South East to make pledges to create new jobs in the UK for 16-24 year olds, helping to tackle youth unemployment as well as embracing a common approach to work placements, internships and apprenticeships.

In the past twelve months over 1,200 industry representatives have attended Big Conversation events, pledging the creation of 30,000 new jobs between now and 2015 (with more to come). Previous events have focused on the wider hospitality industry and hotels, and now it is the turn of restaurants and caterers to make their pledges.

Led by the BHA in partnership with Springboard, the Business in the Community (BITC) and Barclays The Big Conversation initiative will be hosted by BaxterStorey in Tavistock Square.

Says BHA CEO Ufi Ibrahim: “Galvanised by the BHA's - Big Hospitality Conversation - Britain's hospitality industry is leading the fight on youth unemployment. In just twelve months, our industry created 31,000 new career opportunities for 16 to 24 year olds, offering that vital first step onto a rewarding career ladder in hospitality.

“I have no doubt that many of those entering the industry through the Big Hospitality Conversation will make it to the very top, thereby joining the thousands of British chairpersons, managing directors, senior executives and entrepreneurs, who all started out at entry level in hospitality. There are very few other industries that can boast such progression and advancement in career terms".

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'London's restaurant and hospitality scene is vibrant and diverse, offering an eclectic range of career options for our young people. The Big Hospitality Conversation is an excellent initiative which is set to support growth and job creation in this world-leading sector. This is in line with my ambitions to promote apprenticeships in the capital, with the aim to provide 250,000 places by 2016.'

The Big Hospitality Conversation comes hot on the heels of the recently signed agreement between the BHA, the Minister of State for Employment and the Department of Work & Pensions to - 'better serve the needs of the hospitality sector while giving those people who wish to pursue a career in hospitality a recognised route into work'. It is envisaged that the agreement will be an important step in ensuring the hospitality and tourism industry receives the necessary government backing to realise its full job-creating potential in the UK.

Big Hospitality events targeting the hospitality and restaurant industry will be held across the UK throughout the remainder of 2013 and 2014.

Attendees confirmed:

Admiral Recruitment, Ace Hotel London, Davenport Lyons, Babylon, Pizza Express, Barclays, Bespoke Hotels, Blancs Brasseries, Blue Arrow, Brakes, Breakfast Club, Brunswick Group, Byron Hamburgers, Cafe Rouge, Caprice Holdings, Carluccios, Central YMCA, Cote Restaurant, D&D London Ltd, Domino's Pizza, Ed's Easy Diner, Galvin at Windows, GLA, Grwp Llandrillo, Handpicked Hotels, Host, Job Centre Plus, KPMG LLP, Lambeth College, Las Iguanas, Leon De Bruxelles, Liberalitas Hospitality, MARC Restaurants, Marks & Spencer, Metropolitan Restaurants Ltd, MW Eat, Nestle Professional, Northcote, OCS Group Ltd, Panel, Paul Singer Consulting, Peach Factory, People 1st, Peyton and Byrne, Springboard, SSP, TGI Fridays, The Ivy, The Roof Gardens, Tri-Borough Education Business Partnership, Waltham Forest College, YO! SUSHI

For more information please contact:
Julia Svetlosakova
Communications Executive
Press Office
British Hospitality Association
E: [email protected]
T: 020 7404 7744
M: 07701 050216

The hospitality industry is the fourth largest employer in the UK, accounting for some 2.7 million jobs. The industry's potential contribution to the generation of new employment, apprenticeships, economic recovery and regeneration should not be underestimated.

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) is the voice of the UK hospitality industry - positively championing the interests of hotels, restaurants, catering establishments & holiday attractions. The hospitality industry employs some 10% of the UK workforce and our aim is to remind people of the power of hospitality in generating jobs and growth for the UK economy.