UKHospitality appoints skills director to tackle 'workforce crisis'

Trade body UKHospitality has appointed a new skills director to help tackle the “workforce crisis” within the industry.

Sandra Kelly, former UK director at People 1st International, will work on developing a framework of skills for hospitality, looking at secondary, further, and higher education, apprenticeships, and other in-work training.

It follows the launch of UKHospitality’s Workforce Strategy earlier this month, which set out a plan to tackle the staffing crisis that included creating attractive educational pathways into the industry and a 10-year project to reverse the loss of hospitality courses and catering colleges.

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Hospitality is facing a workforce crisis. We are determined to tackle this for the fantastic businesses in the sector and to provide fulfilling jobs that boost social mobility.

“This appointment allows us to look at the short-term opportunities to tackle our current labour crisis but also to ensure there is a pipeline of talent that ensures we have great people joining hospitality and experiencing the opportunities we can provide.”

UKHospitality will continue to work with People 1st International on the measures in its skills strategy.