Yesterday saw the latest installment in The Big Hospitality Conversation series at KPMG in Canary Wharf, London. Led by the British Hospitality Association (BHA), and supported by Business in the Community and Springboard, the initiative brings together influential players from leading hospitality businesses and young people – stimulating dialogue and encouraging more quality work experience, apprenticeships and jobs in the UK for 16-24 year olds.
As well as generating work and opportunities, The Big Hospitality Conversation enables the industry to take a powerful message to Government on the hospitality industry’s significant contribution to economic recovery, tackling youth unemployment and stimulating growth.
In the past twelve months over 1200 industry representatives have attended the Big Hospitality Conversation events, pledging the creation of 33,000 new job opportunities between now and 2015 – with more to come.
Yesterday’s Big Conversation event in Canary Wharf was hosted by KPMG and BHA partners, Springboard and Barclays. Barclays has partnered with the BHA to support the industry body’s goal of creating 60,000 new jobs in the sector by 2015.
BHA CEO, Ufi Ibrahim, says: “The Big Hospitality Conversation gives industry leaders and young people the opportunity to meet, face to face. It gives young people a voice and is a powerful way for businesses to understand and respond to the challenges. More than just a talking forum, The Big Conversation leads to real opportunities, apprenticeships and work placements, which in turn help to stimulate economic growth. This is a powerful message for the hospitality industry to take to Government.”
