MORE THAN A SUMMER JOB

What’s that up there in the sky? Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it is a fork-signal searchlight. We may be taking the Batman analogy a bit too far, but the truth is, the hospitality sector is crying out for people-centric, can-do and solution-focused individuals in all areas of operation – from lead production, accounts to communication, sales to delivery. According to the Opus Business Advisory Group, there are close to 100,000 vacancies (5.1%) in the hospitality sector as we speak. Compared to a 3.2% average, this is the highest vacancy rate of any sector in the UK. At the same time, tabloid headlines shout about youth unemployment which has risen to 14.2%, up from 13.8% in the previous year. So what’s going on? 

Young people seemingly have more choice than ever when it comes to choosing a career path. Yet despite the opportunities and perks of working in hospitality, many people see it as just a part-time role whilst in education or a stop gap between travelling or finding a ‘career’. As the BBF team testify, this sector offers more than a summer job. An entry-level hospitality role can lead to a career in E-commerce, events, communications and marketing to the MD of a brewery. Join us as we lift the lid on opportunities in hospitality how we are supporting young people take their first steps into the sector.

KEZIA
What was your first role in Hospitality? 
I worked at an inn in Bradford on Avon, aged 14. My friend’s parents owned it and she had a birthday party there one year. Me and another friend helped her clean up afterwards and her mum offered us weekend jobs. I started as a chambermaid/kitchen porter, changing beds, washing pots and prepping salad, and climbed the ranks. 10 years later I was a manager at a London nightclub. 

After I graduated in Events Management – a business and marketing degree I chose ultimately because I liked going to festivals – I started going for office-based jobs in the hospitality sector. Every job I’ve ever had has taught me skills I still use today.

What do you do now?
E-Commerce and Marketing Manager. I’m very “online”, whether that’s processing website orders or posting on socials. 

Right now I’m working on a marketing campaign to celebrate £500,000 raised for Bristol through Brewed to Give. Look out for some big billboards around Bristol in September! I’ll also be running the BBF talks at EOTR Festival. If you’re going, come find us and say hello!

Got any top learnings you would pass on to someone considering a career in Hospitality?
Roll up your sleeves and help out. Whether that’s staying late to get stuck into a deep clean or offering to come in early and help answer customer enquiries on emails, there’s always something to do, and even if it doesn’t seem like you’re doing anything remotely related to your dream job, I promise you these are all transferrable skills. 

Oh, and a degree is kinda optional. Get real world experiences. I did one, and unpaid internships which gave me great contacts, but it was the bar jobs that taught me the most skills. I think apprenticeships are great for this reason; you learn and earn at the same time.

CLEM
What was your first role in Hospitality? 
I worked behind the bar for a nightlife venue in Newcastle that will rename nameless. I was 18 and it was a very vibrant evening atmosphere. Turns out I had a mean ability to flick around a bottle opener and then whip off multiple corona lids. High waisted jeans. Tiny white t-shirt. Newcastle. Classic. 

And what do you do now? 
Head of Brand for BBF 

What’s your key learnings from transitioning from flipping that bottle lid to leading on the brand of an entire organisation?
No matter what time you enter the industry, just focus on it and keep learning and watching, embracing the energy of that particular thing you're doing. If you show passion, you will always progress upwards. And if you really enjoy something, you'll put more energy into it, and you will get more out. It’s so diverse that once you are in, you’ll be here for a long time. It's amazing. 

SAM
What was your first role?
I first pulled a pint when I was 17 years old for the local pub (yes, the sale was supervised by an adult). After a stint travelling, I ended up running a British Legion Club in Cornwall which help to land a Brand Development Executive role for Charles Wells Brewery, supporting their sales team and customer base.

What do you do now?
No idea! Managing Director of Bristol Beer Factory brewery and our pub company. Oversee the management, cultural and strategic direction of both companies. 

Got any top learnings you would pass on to someone considering a career in hospitality?
Take learning from every role, whether that’s “what to do” or what “not” to do. Never say yes if you don’t know you can deliver. Listen to customers, forge great relationships, be more than just a supplier. Learn the whole market not just your category. Go for everything, learn about every department in the business and it’s people. You get out what you put in. Manage your time well, it’s critical for success. Live and breathe the industry once you’re in, it will be in your blood forever. 

LEWIS & LEWIS
Earlier this year, we recruited two brewer apprentices as a direct way to address youth unemployment in the city and the need for greater diversity in the brewing sector. Through the process, we employed Lewis and Lewis, both as Brewer Apprentice Level 4, and Rosie, as an experienced brewer. Not only does Rosie bring a positive energy to the brewery but we’re proud that women in brewing are finally being represented at BBF, alongside Briar, who designed FERNRIDE, one of our recent brews.” 

Lewis H first pulled a pint back in the Shire when he was 16 years old (again, supervised). Skip to now and he is 3 months into 20 month brewing apprenticeship and loving life. If you ask Lewis what he thinks of the opportunity he says “I have found my calling. Love the people I work with and the company. This is me.”

BRISTOL CIRCUS CITY
Through BREWED TO GIVE, our community-giving initiative, we recently sponsored Bristol Circus City with a £5k+ donation to employ a young Emerging Producer on a 4-month contract. Although this isn’t hospitality, there are clear synergies with creative arts, and lots of transferable skills between the two sectors. We caught up with Rhianna who was leading on the recruitment to find out more about the role and why providing opportunities for young people is so important for them. 

The Emerging Producer will bring new perspectives, knowledge and experience into the Circus City team, whilst developing skills in producing, commissioning, artists development and creative accessibility. As Rhianna told us, “This role will support a young person to gain experience in producing, event and festival management, enabling them to take their first paid role into this sector. This is really important as we know that there are limited opportunities for people to gain that first step but also there is a need for the particular knowledge and skills around circus programming to widen”. 

Team BBF is committed to our city. But there is a long way to go in terms of tackling youth unemployment and securing greater representation in the brewing sector. That’s why we pledge to work with BREWED TO GIVE partners, to target our entry-level opportunities at young people who:
•    are aged 18-30 years old;
•    are underrepresented within brewing i.e. those who identify as women or non-binary, people who identify as LGBTQA+ and people of the Global Majority; and
•    experience other challenges, such as young carers, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those who struggled in mainstream education etc

If all of this sounds like a bit of you, open the door and step on in. It’s going to be one wild ride. Keep your eyes peeled on our Jobs page or drop your CV into your nearest BBF venue.