By Denis Sheehan MIH, Publisher, H&C News: Parliamentary reception hosted by Jane Hunt MP aids IoH British Royal Charter.
On Wednesday 30th November, the IoH held its final event of 2022, a reception for IoH members and guests in the Parliamentary Terrace at the Palace of Westminster, hosted by Jane Hunt MP.
The event featured a live panel of speakers as well as a chance to network with hospitality professionals and Members of Parliament over drinks and canapés.
IoH Chief Executive Robert Richardson FIH MI hosted a panel of guest speakers to discuss – why hospitality and catering needs a chartered professional body?
The panel comprised:
- Jane Hunt MP
- Tej Walia FIH MI, General Manager of Foxhills
- Clare Johnson MIH, Chair of the IoH Youth Council / Early Careers Lead at Sodexo
- Martin Traynor OBE FIH, Small Business Crown Representative at the Cabinet Office
The discussions focused on perceptions of hospitality and catering as a career choice, and how the recognition of our industry through being awarded a British Royal Charter would enhance perceptions.
The evening demonstrated how having access to Members of Parliament is advantageous to all, in so much as they are real people with real views, not just media personas. Jane Hunt is an articulate and passionate advocate of hospitality and catering. She knows a substantial number of her constituents work in our industry, and even if for no other reason than securing their voting loyalty, supports them.
Discussions also focused on young people and the need for the message of how they can build careers in hospitality and catering to be trumpeted ever more effectively. Clare Johnson spoke with first hand experience, explaining how she entered the industry and thrived within it ever since.
Taj Walia set out how he zealously prioritises young people’s career development at Foxhills, and sees it as a foundation for growth.
Martin Traynor reflected upon his own career in hospitality and catering and his longstanding membership of the IoH. How the skills he acquired have served him well to date, and how important it is for those ‘soft’ skills to be recognised.
Of the reception, Robert Richardson FIH MI said: “It was a sincere pleasure to welcome MPs, IoH members and their guests to the Institute of Hospitality reception in Parliament on Wednesday night. We asked why our hospitality and catering industry needs a chartered professional body, it’s fair to say the response to the question was universally positive.
“Thank you so much to everyone from within our #HospitalityFamily that said #imin and joined us, with guests travelling from as far afield as Bucharest, supporting both our organisation and aspiration to become a chartered body. We absolutely could not do any of this without you.
“We are very grateful to Jane Hunt MP, not only for hosting us in such memorable surroundings, but for demonstrating such knowledge of our industry, its economic impact to UK plc, and its value to our communities.”
The panel discussion was filmed and will be released to the IoH membership later this month. If you were unable to attend, I would highly recommend a watch.