Hospitality firms back 100,000 youth opportunities

Sector backs young people

The UK hospitality sector has announced plans to offer up to 100,000 job opportunities and work placements to young people who are not in employment, education or training over the next three years.

The move brings together major employers including Wagamama, Nando’s, Burger King, Premier Inn, Fuller’s and Mitchells & Butlers. They are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to provide work placements of up to four weeks for people aged 18 to 24.

The aim is to help young people build workplace skills, gain confidence and get exposure to employment opportunities in hospitality.

The announcement comes as concerns grow about youth unemployment. A review into youth unemployment by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn is expected shortly after the Autumn Budget. Reports suggest the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training could rise significantly over the coming years without action.

Hospitality has traditionally been one of the most accessible sectors for people starting work. It offers a wide range of roles, from customer-facing jobs to operational and management positions. This latest commitment strengthens the sector’s role in helping people enter the workforce.

Part of a wider effort

The hospitality programme follows a similar initiative in retail. Major retailers including Marks & Spencer, Asda, Pets at Home and the John Lewis Partnership have also pledged to create routes into work for young people starting their careers.

The government is also looking at other ways to increase participation in work and education. These include measures aimed at reducing school exclusions and improving educational engagement.

At the same time, policymakers are considering wider changes linked to skills, apprenticeships, welfare and employment support. Proposals under discussion include ways to help young people move more smoothly from education into work.

For hospitality businesses, the initiative could help address recruitment difficulties that have continued since the pandemic. Many employers still report shortages in front-of-house, kitchen and management roles, making it important to attract and develop new entrants into the sector.

What this means for hiring. The initiative could create more opportunities for front-of-house teams, kitchen staff and future managers as employers bring younger people into the sector through placements and job opportunities. It may also help businesses facing shortages in customer-facing, kitchen and management roles since the pandemic.