Why now is the best time to join Hospitality

I believe that there was never a better time to start a career in hospitality. The pandemic and BREXIT have had, and continue to have, a massive impact on the industry and are shaping the way hospitality companies are looking at recruiting and retaining their employees. That coupled with the raised awareness regarding employees' well-being and diversity makes hospitality an excellent choice for a career.

Let's break down some of the signs that show now is the best time to join hospitality:

Salaries are increasing.

Despite the massive disruption caused by the pandemic, with many hospitality companies having to close down or restructure, and thus make people redundant, the staff shortage experienced as businesses reopen has led some salaries to increase to attract the talent.

In a recent interview with Radio 4's PM programme, James Reed, chairman of Reed, one of the UK's biggest recruitment sites, said that pay for jobs in hospitality and catering had gone up 18% on the jobs advertised on their sites.

Benefits offered are changing and innovating.

As often is the case, the financial aspect is just part of the package that companies offer to secure the best talent. The need to retain people and attract new starters has also led to an overhaul, in some cases, of the benefits offered. These packages can now include more holiday days, more flexible hours, new bonus schemes and development opportunities. All aimed at making working in the industry more appealing.

The well-being of employees takes centre stage.

Hospitality has always been known as an industry in which people work unsociable hours under a considerable amount of stress caused by customers and managers alike. Gone are the days when the pressure and lack of kindness towards staff that TV shows portrayed about the industry were acceptable.

While the fast pace of working in hospitality is still present, unkind treatment of staff is not tolerated anymore in the industry. Companies and industry leaders take appropriate action to ensure the work environment is based on inclusion, empathy, and kindness.

On top of this, more and more programmes and initiatives are available for employees challenged by the industry's fast pace. Employees are supported to find the best way to cope and thrive rather than being left to fend for themselves.

Focus on diversity is higher than ever before.

While hospitality has always been a diverse industry, now the focus on diversity is elevated to new heights due to new initiatives and the industry's desire to do better. Working in hospitality means catering to and working with people from all walks of life, ethnic backgrounds and sexual identities. These are all part of someone's character and personality, and the industry places a massive premium on this.

Product and services delivered are better and better.

In order to thrive, hospitality is an industry that constantly changes, evolves and reinvents itself. Changing behaviours of the customers and innovation in technology make some daily tasks easier to fulfil. This trend is now accelerating, thus making the job easier and removing some of the pressure.

The creativity and excitement that comes with what hospitality can offer now in terms of experiences for its customers is undoubtedly something that makes choosing a career in the industry an appealing option. The even better news is that it will only get more exciting as the offering evolves.

Customers appreciate more the industry and its people.

After a period in which hospitality has been closed, customers value more the ability to go out or travel and thus are more appreciative of the service provided by the teams in the industry. People are more aware of the industry's struggles during the pandemic and how hard people work to give them that memorable experience.

Career progression has accelerated.

With career progression placed on hold for a year and with the struggle in recruiting, companies are accelerating staff development to ensure they fill the skills gap. Because of that, the time needed to grow in the industry has been reduced. While this is undoubtedly beneficial for people who already work in the industry, any new starter will surely benefit from that as well.

These are just some of the signs that choosing to start a career in hospitality now is a fantastic opportunity. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but then again, there always is. What is certain is that the industry will only get better, and now is the best time there has ever been to choose to join the amazing people already working in the industry.

All you need to do is make sure you do a little bit of research before deciding where to join to ensure that you choose the area and the company that suits you and offers what you need. I promise you there is a place for everyone in hospitality, and we are excited to welcome you on board.