Government urged to include high street hospitality businesses in youth employment plans by industry body

UKHospitality (UKH) has called on the Government to include the hospitality sector in its new £3bn skills programme aimed at helping young people into work.

The Government's initiative focuses on creating 120,000 training opportunities in sectors such as construction, healthcare, and digital technology, but UKH argues that hospitality, particularly high street retail businesses, should also be a priority.

UKH Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “It’s positive to see the Government’s skills announcement this week, helping to create more opportunities for young people getting into work and increase investment in the skills system. However, as part of its skills reform, we urge the Government to consider the hospitality industry as part of the plans. It’s a key sector that can deliver change at both pace and scale, unlike many of the current priority sectors.”

Nicholls highlighted the success of the Hospitality Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), developed in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions, as evidence of the industry's capability to provide effective training solutions.

UKH has several training initiatives ready for implementation, including a foundation apprenticeship for hospitality set to launch in August 2025, a Level 7 Hospitality Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme starting in September 2025, and hospitality and catering courses designed for adult learners.

Additionally, Hospitality Skills Bootcamps have garnered interest from various locations, including London, Liverpool, and Sussex, aiming to provide practical training in commercial kitchens and restaurants.

Nicholls emphasised the importance of Government support, stating that recognizing and backing the dedicated work of the hospitality sector is imperative to provide best-in-class training for both new entrants and existing workers in the industry.