Hospitality Industry Unites With New Venture “Hospitality: Connects”
Collaboration across a broad range of sectors to showcase everything the Catering & Hospitality industry has to offer; driving increased youth employment & awareness of apprenticeship schemes. Hospitality Connects is a joint initiative developed by Simon Britten; Digital Marketing Manager at Bunzl Lockhart, Omy Lawal; HR Projects at Sodexo, and Simon Lewis; Operations Manager at HIT Training. This collaboration between varying areas of hospitality was borne out of providing a more interactive experience for young learners seeking a fresh perspective on the industry. This season's theme focuses on the Hotel sector.
Format: A Day in the Life of an Hotelier
Held across 2 days on 24th & 25th June, Hospitality Connects aims to showcase to young learners the broad mix of skills required for employment within the Hotel Sector. From being checked in at the lobby, to hands-on demonstrations of every major facet of this area of catering & hospitality, the event will involve a handful of the UK's largest hotel chains & smaller independents to help spread the message that the Hotel sector is not only a viable area of employment, but a thriving one.
The event will consist of a mix of presentations, competitions & interactive demonstrations from some of London & the UK's best-loved hotels. After being checked in and given a scoresheet, students will make their way around the London Innovation Centre to various areas of the Hotel:
• A Coffee Froth Art Demo showcases the growing Barista trade within Hotels, and how to create much more than just a hot drink for customers.
• A Mocktail Mixology Demo prepares students for the theatre of presentation in a bar or restaurant area.
• Design-A-Menu gets them involved in the un-seen preparations that are vital to any booming Hotel trade, and the psychology behind marketing food.
• They will then move on to an Interactive Cooking Demo, with an Eton Mess on the menu and points awarded to the best dish!
• After designing a menu & cooking the dish, the students will then be asked to take part in the all-important Table-Setting Challenge and learn all about first impressions.
• After this, every delegate will have the chance for some Peer 2 Peer Engagement, whereby they will be able to hear just what the Hotel industry is really like from a recent graduate or apprentice.
• There is also a Housekeeping Task, to introduce the world of cleaning & hygiene into their mind-sets, and to showcase the importance of recycling in this modern age.
Simon Lewis, Operations Manager, HIT Training, added:
"The hospitality industry is the third largest sector in the UK and at the heart of communities across the country, so ensuring careers in this industry remain aspirational and relevant is vital. That's why HIT Training is proud to collaborate with the valuable Hospitality: Connects initiative to help capture the attention of the younger generation and promote careers in this vibrant sector."
"Giving people an interactive and experiential insight into what it's like to work in hospitality is a perfect way to change perceptions and demonstrate the varied and beneficial career opportunities on offer. HIT Training's support comes as part of our ongoing campaign, Don't Waste: The Future of Hospitality, which aims to inspire more people to grab their future with both hands and take up a long-term, rewarding and aspirational careers in hospitality."
About The Companies
Sodexo
Sodexo develops, manages and delivers a diverse range of services, designed to improve the quality of life for our clients and customers. Sodexo has been named as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women for the sixth consecutive year. The list recognises employers who make gender quality part of their business strategy at all levels and have committed to creating inclusive workplace cultures and women's career progression.
HIT Training
HIT Training is the leading national specialist training and apprenticeship provider for the hospitality and catering sector. Having supported over 100,000 learners across 20,000 employer sites across the country HIT offers a huge range of apprenticeships and development schemes for people at all levels, from school-leavers to senior management. Find out more here.
Bunzl Lockhart
At Lockhart Catering Equipment we aim to bring you only the best quality equipment from highly respected names in catering. For the latest in innovation, look no further than our 2600 sq. ft. showroom, which has been designed as a showcase for our company vision; "to bring innovation and inspiration to the preparation and presentation of food". The Innovation Centre incorporates Front of House displays, several fully functional demonstration areas such as a mixology bar & commercial Kitchen, and an array of displays from leading brands in Oxford Circus, London.
Springboard
The advancement in life and education of young people under the age of 25 by the provision of advice, training and skills courses. To relieve unemployment for public benefit in such ways as may be thought fit, including the provision of assistance to unemployed people seeking employment in hospitality, leisure and tourism. The relief of poverty caused by disability, social or economic circumstances, by the provision of advice, training skills courses and support. Find out more here.
Venue: London Innovation Centre
Bunzl Lockhart Catering Equipment's 3000 sq. ft. showroom has been designed as a showcase for our company vision, which is to bring "innovation and inspiration to the preparation and presentation of food". The Innovation Centre incorporates Front of House displays, several fully functional demonstration areas such as a mixology bar & commercial Kitchen, and an array of displays from leading brands. Take a virtual tour around the space here:
Contact Us
To find out more about Hospitality: Connects please connect with us across various social channels below, or email hospitalityconnects@gmail.com where a representative of Sodexo, HIT or Bunzl Lockhart will respond directly.