A group of young hospitality professionals has called on the Government to support the sector’s ability to create jobs and career opportunities for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The group is backing UKHospitality’s call for a reduction in employer National Insurance contributions, arguing that rising employment costs are limiting businesses’ ability to create the entry-level roles that have traditionally provided routes into hospitality careers.
Among the signatories is Liberty Chrystall, 23, who became General Manager of The Railway pub on the Wirral at 21 and has since overseen a six-figure investment in the business.
Ella Jackaman, 22, manages the ICE Restaurant in Bury St Edmunds after beginning her hospitality career as a kitchen porter. Following completion of a law degree, she chose to return to the sector.
Harry Bourne, 29, is an Operations Manager at Punch Pubs, supporting around 40 pubs across the East Midlands after starting his hospitality career at 16.
Immie Hearson, 25, joined Alton Towers for a summer job aged 19 and now works as a Resource Associate within its HR team, supporting recruitment and employee relations.
Bethany Stevens, 28, is Head of Department for Leisure at Butlin’s Bognor Regis, having joined the business at 16 as a funfair team member. She now coaches and develops leaders across the resort’s leisure operation, including its £15 million indoor activity centre.
Szymon Kantor, 24, entered hospitality as a food runner with no previous experience and has progressed over five years to become an Assistant Manager at Franco Manca.
Rabee Bond, 24, is Food & Beverage Assistant Manager at Hilton, having progressed through assistant, team leader and supervisor positions since joining the company at 17.
Sarah Szczur, 29, entered hospitality as a bar supervisor and has subsequently progressed through restaurant management, including developing her own team as an Assistant Manager at Franco Manca.
In a joint statement, the group said: “Hospitality has been a sector of opportunity for us all. The opportunity for a first job, the opportunity to learn new skills, and the opportunity to develop a hugely rewarding career.
“There is no other sector like hospitality. It is the ultimate meritocracy that rewards hard work, creativity, drive and, frankly, people who want to get things done.
“We’re all about amazing teams delivering amazing experiences, supported by people from all walks of life. From school leavers and non-graduates to people changing career or looking for a way back into work.
“We all count ourselves lucky to have started working in hospitality early in our lives. We have been afforded incredible opportunities to progress and take our careers in all sorts of directions.
“But we see firsthand the cost challenges hospitality is facing and how that’s impacting the roles available for young people. We all want young people today to have the same opportunities we did but we have to be honest, they are becoming few and far between.
“Prime Minister: hospitality will help you solve the NEETs crisis, if you just give the incredible businesses in our sector some breathing space to do what we do best.
“Back us. Back hospitality to create jobs in every postcode. We will deliver, and we will make sure the next generation doesn’t turn into the lost generation.”
Figures cited by UKHospitality show that hospitality accounts for 31% of first jobs among 16-to-24-year-olds and provides around 300,000 job starts for people in that age group each year.
The sector body also states that hospitality employs 18.2% of all young people currently in work.
UKHospitality is calling for employer National Insurance contributions to be reduced to lower employment costs and support businesses in creating further jobs and career opportunities across the sector.
Associated Articles
Hospitality Could Deliver £2.3bn Economic Benefit by Tackling Youth Unemployment, Report Finds
Research from Hilton and WPI Economics estimated that helping more young people classified as NEET into hospitality employment could generate £2.3 billion in annual economic benefit, while highlighting the barriers created by rising employment costs.
Hospitality Could Deliver £2.3bn Economic Benefit by Tackling Youth Unemployment, Report Finds
Compass, Youth Employment UK and Futures For All Launch Initiative to Tackle Youth Unemployment
Compass Group UK & Ireland has launched a programme providing young people with careers education, employer engagement and work experience as part of efforts to create clearer pathways from education into employment.
Compass, Youth Employment UK and Futures For All Launch Initiative to Tackle Youth Unemployment
Changing Lives Through Hospitality: Springboard Helps More Than 5,000 People into Work and Education
Springboard supported more than 5,100 young and unemployed people into jobs or education during 2025-26, demonstrating hospitality’s role in providing employment and skills opportunities to people facing barriers to work.
Changing Lives Through Hospitality: Springboard Helps More Than 5,000 People into Work and Education
