Hospitality industry launches £5m 'talent development' campaign in response to jobs and skills crisis

HTSB will be closely involved in the new Hotel and Hostel Sectoral Council (TSC), the joint government and industry initiative.

This means Hospitality Rising - the brainchild of chief executive Mark McCulloch - has gained the support of representatives from across the hospitality industry, including UKHospitality, BII and the British Beer and Pub Association.

The endorsement is making Hospitality Rising the official industry reaction to the Hiring Crisis.

Official acceptance of the Hospitality Rising will kick off a concerted industry-wide fundraising campaign launched by ex-Pret a Manger marksman McCulloch. Hospitality Rising has already secured more than £350.000 of seed capital and plans to establish a multi-million pound fund to launch the campaign.

Speaking about the new regulatory status of Hospitality Rising McCulloch said: "To be approved as the industry's official campaign and response to the recruitment crisis is amazing. It means we can really accelerate what we are doing with Hospitality Rising – we can now go stratospheric."

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, said: "The campaign cannot come soon enough. Our latest research shows the issues of recruitment and skills are absolutely mission-critical to the hospitality and tourism sectors. Many of our members are struggling with a significant level of vacancies; this campaign will enable hospitality to stage a vital intervention, and turn on a generation to the rich and varied roles and career pathways that our vibrant industry offers."

Figures from UKHospitality show that 400.000 job openings have been made in the hospitality sector while there are another 100.000 people missing, meaning the sector is left with a shortage of half a million people a day-more than 20 per cent of the workforce.