Hospitality Industry Jobs

What kind of work can I do?
Opportunities in restaurants include management and chef work. Opportunities for business managers, finance managers and operational staff exist within larger restaurant chains.
Pubs, bars and clubs offer opportunities in licensed retailing, management, promotions and event management.
Hotels offer management, event organisation, restaurant and bar work and a whole range of operational roles, including finance, human resources and marketing.
Contract catering involves providing professional food services such as hospitals, schools, entertainment venues or large public sector organisations.
Events, conferences and meetings are big business. Approximately two-thirds of conferences and events take place in hotels (Trends and Statistics 2006, British Hospitality Association), although there are opportunities available within event companies that operate outside of event venues.
What’s it like working in this sector?
Working in contract catering, providing meals in schools, hospitals and staff restaurants can be a nine-to-five job, whereas working in restaurants and pubs can mean longer but more flexible hours.
Working in hotels usually means longer hours but promises a wide variety of jobs and early responsibility.
Many occupations within the sector may be appropriate for those seeking flexible working hours or who wish to work part time.
Salaries vary and depend on the size of the company, the amount of responsibility involved and the type of organisation. Sometimes, packages can include profit-related pay, subsidised accommodation or meals, pension schemes or health insurance.
Starting salaries for trainee hotel managers can be around £12,000 to £20,000. A starting salary for a restaurant manager can range from £16,000 to £19,000. Starting salaries in event management can range from £13,000 to £21,000 (AGCAS Occupational Profiles, 2006). For more information on working conditions and salaries see explore types of job
How big is this sector?
According to the British Hospitality Association, the industry is made up of about 127,000 businesses and employs a workforce of 1.6 million people.
There are approximately 22,000 hotels and guest houses, plus around 16,000 bed and breakfasts, in the UK .
Restaurants employ over 500,000 full-time and part-time staff.
Contract catering and hospitality services account for 19% of the sector (all figures from Trends and Statistics, 2006, British Hospitality Association).