There are few industries that are quite as vibrant, diverse, and interesting as hospitality.
Employing around 1.8 million people, comprising of approximately 143,000 businesses, the hospitality sector is integral to communities across the UK and a huge part of how we socialise.
Whether you’re looking into contract catering, working at a fast-paced late-night venue, or a restaurant job, there are a variety of options out there to suit your needs and goals for progression.
Here are seven reasons why you should choose a career in hospitality.
1. It’s a ‘people’ job
Hospitality is a people-facing industry, which means that those who enjoy interacting with others and meeting new people will be well-placed in any hospitality role.
Primarily, a hospitality role means that when you’re working, you’re making other people’s days a little bit easier – from behind-the-scenes roles to customer-facing ones – and focusing on creating a comfortable, enjoyable atmosphere for everyone.
It’s not just the customers, though.
Working in hospitality means that you’ll be surrounded by a diverse range of colleagues as well, being able to develop a shared connection of the work that you do together.
2. You can make your way up the ladder
In many sectors, job progression can be a blurry and non-linear process.
With hospitality, there is strong potential from the very beginning of your career to be promoted and work your way up the ladder.
From June-August 2021, around 56% of hospitality employers hired new staff from other sectors, as more and more people consider the long-term employment opportunities that hospitality can offer – one of which is career progression.
The sector is resilient, which means that even with the uncertainty of the pandemic, hospitality will continue to grow as customer demand increases for leisure activity and spending.
Though many industries operate on a ‘work your way up to the top’ basis, it is a true working practice in hospitality where an entry-level job can progress to a managerial role through hard work and consistency.
3. Flexibility
A 9-5 job isn’t for everyone.
Many hospitality employees love the fact that no two days are ever the same in hospitality, as the thought of a 9-5 job and doing the same thing every day isn’t aligned with their personality and goals.
This also means that hospitality can be vital for those looking for flexibility around academic studies or other commitments in your personal life – research has shown that around 83% of hospitality businesses are allowing flexible shift patterns as part of wider efforts to boost employee benefits in the sector.
You set the pace for when you want to work and benefit from the variety that your job can bring!
4. Transferable skills
In a 2019 report, 89% of recruiters said that when a hire didn’t work out, it usually came down to a lack of soft skills.
When employers were asked to name the top skills that they want in employees, soft skills such as flexibility, problem-solving, dependability, and teamwork/collaboration were cited – all of which are skills developed in most hospitality roles.
This is highly advantageous for those working in hospitality, as it means their skills are not only in high demand in hospitality, but also across other sectors.
These skills are highly coveted and make an employee marketable, no matter which avenue they decide to go down, and this can all be cultivated in a hospitality role.
5. It can take you to locations across the world
Many of the skills learned in hospitality can be transferred to locations around the world, providing you with the option to learn from different cultures, build your skillset, and appreciate the variety of each location.
The pace of a city centre pub versus a holiday park will be different, yet once you’ve honed your skills and gained your experience, you’ll be set to work wherever hospitality might take you.
The hotel industry, for example, often offers placements across tourist destinations that are likely on most bucket lists and can lead to unforgettable experiences as you work across the world.
6. Greater emphasis on employee benefits
80% of hospitality businesses are offering pay and other work-life benefits as part of wider efforts in the industry to provide valuable, long-term career opportunities for those entering the sector.
Though the perception of hospitality may have shifted due to the pandemic, there are multiple work-life benefits to working in hospitality – flexibility, personal development programmes, free meals, bonuses – which means that your job will not only have professional value, but personal value as well.
Salary is no longer the sole employee benefit on the table. Instead, employees can enjoy access to a range of benefits that can provide great work-life balance.
7. There’s never been a better time
Vacancies are still high in hospitality, which means that, as mentioned above, there is greater emphasis on employee benefits than ever before.
People are entering the industry through apprenticeships, high-class training schemes, or with the outlook of career progression – not only are the pathways to hospitality becoming more diverse, but the benefits of being in the industry are diversifying too.
Upskilling, health and wellbeing, and better pay are all higher on the agenda as part of efforts to attract people to a career in hospitality, all of which are integral to having a happy job.
The range of jobs available and the variety of opportunities that come with them mean that individuals from all backgrounds can find a role to suit them and develop to their full potential.
To summarise
The hospitality industry has undergone considerable changes in the last few years, particularly since the pandemic.
Re-evaluating what is important to employees as a way of filling high numbers of vacancies means that those looking for a career in hospitality can benefit from greater work-life balance, career progression opportunities and transferable skills, all whilst gaining experience in a sociable, fast-paced environment.
In our opinion, hospitality is one of the most rewarding career paths to take, and we can help you begin your journey and support you throughout the process.
Take a look at our hospitality vacancies to see which exciting opportunities await!