Jobs And Careers Autumn 2018 - 100

2

Great access to
career progression
There's no reason you can't
go far, even if you start at
the bottom. "People don't
always think of hospitality as
a long-term career, but it's well known for
developing people in high-level roles quite
quickly," says Helen Miller, HR and training
manager with Centre Island Group, based
at hotels in Liverpool. "Management roles
are definitely accessible to people who
want to achieve them. Often, hotels will
invest in people through college courses to
develop their skills and help further their
careers, through flexible working hours or
by paying for or subsidising the courses."

3

You can be creative
It may not seem obvious,
but this is an important
aspect of the industry.
"Hospitality allows me to
indulge my creative side,"
says restaurant entrepreneur and Dragons'
Den investor Sarah Willingham. "There
is always the chance to dream up a new
dish or cocktail, implement a welcome
routine for guests that impresses and
inspires, design a memorable event or
think outside the box to solve problems."

4

It has longterm stability
Hospitality was a key player
in UK jobs recovery in the
post-recession years - and
unlike others, such as the
digital and creative industry, it didn't
receive government support in the form
of tax relief. People will always need food,

100 /// JOBS & CAREERS

drink and somewhere to sleep, and the
UK is a popular tourist destination with
around 40 million visitors annually. A job
in hospitality can be for life if you want
- some businesses do close, of course,
but the skills you learn are transferable.

5

It gives you life skills
Speaking of which... the
skills you learn will not just
benefit you in work but in
life as well. Want to impress
your date? You will if you
know which wine goes perfectly with a
fillet of beef or how to make a delicious
cocktail. And dealing with customers
who want everything to be just right
will teach you how to defuse any kind
of uncomfortable or fiery situation.

6

There are jobs
everywhere
This is an industry that
allows you to work almost
anywhere, including areas
that perhaps don't offer as
many opportunities in other industries.
For example, while there are many
hospitality jobs in thriving areas of the UK
like London and the South East, the South
West has the UK's highest concentration
of hospitality employment. You'll also
get the chance to live and work in some
great places, from bustling city centres
to beautiful coastal towns and villages.

7

Seriously good perks
If you work in the hotel
industry in particular, it can
open up the world to you.
"There are 14 brands within
my company, and staff get
highly discounted hotel rates all around the
world," says Miller. "It's great - you find

WORDS CHRIS MILLER SOURCES: ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE CAREERS ADVISORY
SERVICES, BRITISH HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION, FOURTH ANALYTICS, THE CATERER

1

There's
endless variety
From hotels and restaurants
to event planning and cruises,
there's a wealth of different
workplaces across the
hospitality industry - and plenty of variety
within those. You may get the chance
to work in different departments so you
can try hotel reception, front of house
in a restaurant, housekeeping, bar work,
events, kids' clubs and so on. Plus there are
opportunities in fields such as accountancy,
HR, marketing and sales, so you never
have to feel stuck or pigeonholed.
Jobs And Careers Autumn 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs And Careers Autumn 2018
