The summer release of A-level results is an emotional day in the UK, but with the additional challenges of Covid19 restrictions, young people have even more reason to celebrate their achievements this year.
We too, in the hospitality sector, have faced stifling challenges to get our businesses through Covid19 restrictions and sadly for many, staff shortages as we unlock.
As hospitality talent attraction specialists, the team at Placed App has the privilege of matchmaking go-getting job seekers, including school leavers, with hospitality vacancies. We also help the hospitality industry to grow the number of ambitious young people applying for these opportunities.
This requires a change in the perception of hospitality roles.
In a recent survey carried out by Placed App, almost 60% of job seekers believed there is a “stigma” attached to hospitality work. The reasons cited included pay, prospects and hours.
To change the narrative we showcase career opportunities, not just job vacancies.
We see much greater engagement from young people who are excited by the prospects of apprenticeships, training on the job, mentorships, up-skilling and fast-track to management schemes. For those who don’t want to go to university or didn’t get the results they hoped for, a route to achieve career success creates an infectious buzz with Placed App users.
19-year-old Georgia Inwood’s story is a great example. Georgia is a management apprentice at Pizza Hut restaurants, having already succeeded as a kitchen team member. “It’s a whole different experience getting out there and working. It will build your confidence, it will give you the qualification, you’ll also earn money as well as learning.”
Charlotte Hewston, apprenticeship manager at Greene King agrees, “Within a few years, you could take that route of apprenticeships and you can be running your own multi-million pound site with employees working alongside you. So there’s real opportunity to grow and develop with us.”
These stories inspire the growing number of hospitality job applications at Placed App.