The BHA and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation hosted the event to support the next generation of hospitality employees in the London Borough of Haringey. The national campaign is designed to encourage hospitality employers to make pledges and create 60,000 jobs by 2016.
Over 1,500 chief executives and HR directors have connected with jobseekers at the series of events so far and it is hoped that the 40,000 pledges landmark was reached by the end of the yesterday’s events.
The day started with the arrival of Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who met aspiring hospitality workers looking to start a career in the industry.
Speaking at the beginning of the event, Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of the BHA, highlighted the importance of connecting employers with job seekers before they met later in the day: "The right conversation can change a life."
Hosting the event were young Londoners who have benefitted from the BHA’s previous events and now work in the hospitality industry. They were later joined by Anne Pierce, CEO of Springboard, who hosted a conversation on the importance of work experience, speaking to students about the work they are doing towards a career in hospitality.
Hospitality and tourism accounts for over 10% of the UK’s workforce and is the fourth largest employing industry in the UK. The BHA’s Big Hospitality Conversations are designed to create job opportunities for 16-24 year olds.