Minister for Employment Damian Hinds MP and Fred Sirieix attended London’s Westminster Kingsway College on 15th February as part of the month long Hospitality Works campaign.
Hospitality Works will run in hundreds of Jobcentre Plus offices nationwide for a month. The campaign aims to inspire jobseekers by promoting opportunities and vacancies in hospitality, the UK’s 4th largest industry, employing 4.49 million people in over 180,000 businesses.
Launched on Valentine’s Day, with Fred Sirieix ‘match-making’ jobseekers with hospitality careers, the campaign is led by the Department of Work and Pensions, The Springboard Charity and the British Hospitality Association. This was one of many events that will last for a month and this event saw hundreds of jobseekers meet potential employers to discuss careers in hospitality.
Fred Sirieix, host of First Dates and General Manager at Galvin at Windows said: “The hospitality industry offers fantastic career prospects and opportunities. It has created exciting jobs for millions across the country and I know the Hospitality Works campaign will inspire wonderful careers! So what are you waiting for? Take charge of your life, take the bull by the horns and join our industry right now! I can guarantee you it won’t be dull!”
He added: “I believe in hard work and in the beauty of discipline to achieve one’s goal. There has never been a more exciting time to join the hospitality industry – there are opportunities everywhere for those who want them and those who are prepared to do what it takes. Hospitality Works is the perfect chance this Valentine’s Day.”
Damian Hinds MP, Minister for Employment said: “Hospitality is one of the most exciting and dynamic industries to work in – with many different career opportunities at all levels. Our Jobcentre Plus teams stand ready to offer free advice and support to anyone thinking about a career in hospitality and tourism, so they can take full advantage of the opportunities being created in the economy.”
Anne Pierce, The Springboard Charity’s CEO, said: “Nationwide, Springboard’s leading role in Hospitality Works is providing careers fairs, coaching sessions, industry visits, World Host Qualifications and training sessions from barista skills to bartending. Alongside the Department for Work and Pensions and the British Hospitality Association, we’re really excited to see #jobswithasmile promote hospitality, leisure and tourism as a great place to work. Fred Sirieix, the front of our campaign has a love of hospitality. He shows the heights it can lead to, as he manages Galvin at Windows – one of the capital’s best restaurants. This campaign will see Jobcentres across the country promote opportunities in the industry, and we hope to see more people fall in love with hospitality throughout this campaign.”
Last year the campaign generated over 80,000 different activities. The 2017 campaign can be followed on Twitter using the hashtag #jobswithasmile.