Back hospitality to solve NEETs crisis, sector’s rising stars urge Government

A group of under-30s that are leading examples of hospitality’s career potential have urged the Government to not make the next generation the lost generation.

The current generation of leading lights across hospitality have urged the Government to back the sector to create jobs and help solve the NEETs crisis, and once again provide the career and development opportunities they themselves have benefitted from.

In a joint statement, they call hospitality the ‘ultimate meritocracy’ that provides ‘incredible opportunities’, but they warn how cost challenges are impacting those same opportunities they have experienced themselves.

Together, the group are shining examples of how hospitality develops jobs and careers for young people. They are collectively supporting our ask for the Government to reduce employer NICs to reduce employment costs and support the sector creating jobs in every postcode.

Among the signatories are clear examples of how hospitality supports careers for young people.

Liberty Chrystall, 23, General Manager of The Railway pub

At 23, Liberty Chrystall is proof of what is possible for what young people in hospitality can achieve. Becoming a General Manager at just 21, she has since overseen a six-figure investment in her pub and continues to drive its success. Through Greene King, Liberty achieved distinctions in both her Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeships and is now preparing to undertake her Level 5.

Hospitality allowed her the financial freedom, resulting in purchasing her first house at 19, she is passionate about progression, opportunity and building a successful future, with many more possibilities in hospitality ahead.

Liberty’s journey highlights why government backing for hospitality at the Budget is vital to support young talent and protect the sector’s future.

Liberty Chrystall, General Manager, The Railway pub, Greene King

Ella Jackaman, 22, Restaurant Manager, ICE Restaurant

At 22, I’m the Restaurant Manager at Ice Restaurant, where I started my hospitality journey at 14 as a kitchen porter. Having grown with the business, I’ve experienced first hand the opportunities hospitality can give young people.

I started as a shy teenager, but the industry has helped me grow in confidence, develop invaluable life skills and build friendships and a sense of belonging. While completing my law degree, hospitality remained a constant in my life, giving me balance beyond my studies.

My journey shows that hospitality is more than a job. It’s an industry that shapes futures, opens doors and deserves investment in the next generation.

Ella Jackaman, 22, Restaurant Manager, ICE Restaurant

Harry Bourne, 29, Operations Manager at Punch Pubs

Harry supports around 40 pubs across the East Midlands, to help them build successful businesses and deliver great pub experiences. He called the decision to join hospitality at 16 as a ‘no-brainer’.

Harry Bourne, 29, is an Operations Manager at Punch Pubs

Immie Hearson, 25, Resource Associate at Alton Towers, Merlin Entertainments.

My journey began here in 2021 as a summer job when I was 19, and five years later, that 'summer job' is still going. During my time here, I've worked in a variety of different roles, giving me a unique perspective on the opportunities that hospitality can offer.

Today, I work with our on-site HR team, helping to support recruitment and employee relations for one of the UK's leading visitor attractions. I'm passionate about the importance that hospitality plays in providing opportunities for young people.

My own career is a great example of how an entry-level/seasonal role can develop into a long-term career, with opportunities to grown and progress. I believe it's vital that the Government continues to support the hospitality sector, helping young businesses invest in young people and provide career pathways for the next generation.

Immie Hearson, 25, is a Resource Associate at Alton Towers, Merlin Entertainments.

Bethany Stevens, 28, Interim Head of Department for Leisure at Butlin’s Bognor Regis

Bethany Stevens, 28, is Interim Head of Department for Leisure at Butlin’s Bognor Regis. She joined Butlin’s at 16 as a funfair team member and has progressed through roles including funfair team leader, funfair manager and sports manager.

Bethany now coaches and develops leaders across the resort’s leisure teams, including at PLAYXPERIENCE, Butlin’s £15million indoor activity centre. She helps the team build skills to give guests a brilliant holiday.

In her 12 years at Butlin’s, she has gained qualifications in sports, funfair and Splash Waterworld, the resort’s indoor water park. She also sits on Butlin’s Inclusion and Diversity Board.

Bethany Stevens, 28, is the Interim Head of Department for Leisure at Butlin’s Bognor Regis

Rabee Bond, 24, Hilton’s Food & Beverage Assistant Manager

At 24 years old, I have built seven years of experience in the hospitality industry, progressing through the ranks at Hilton from Food & Beverage Assistant to Team Leader, Supervisor, and now Assistant Manager. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to personal and professional development, successfully completing three apprenticeship programs at Levels 2, 3, and 4. My journey has strengthened my leadership skills, operational knowledge, and passion for delivering outstanding guest experiences. I am driven by continuous improvement, developing others, and embracing new opportunities to grow within the hospitality industry.

Rabee Bond, 24, is Hilton’s Food & Beverage Assistant Manager

Sarah Szczur, 29, Assistant Manager, Franco Manca

Sarah Szczur is a 29-year-old Assistant Manager for Franco Manca in Manchester. Her hospitality career began in 2021 when she was looking to make connections in a new town and support herself while she decided who she wanted to be after university. Her first job as a Bar Supervisor made her realise how much this industry was helping her to grow, both personally and professionally.

Now she has experience in so many areas of restaurant management, from the numbers behind a successful business to the development of my own team. However, as more restaurants struggled to turn a profit and closed their doors, especially independent businesses in smaller towns, she had to move to Manchester to continue her hospitality journey. Without support from the Government, young people will not have access to the same opportunities to gain wide-ranging skills and build their independence like she did.

Sarah Szczur, 29, Assistant Manager, Franco Manca

Szymon Kantor, 24, Assistant Manager, Franco Manca

Szymon Kantor. is 24, and has worked in hospitality for nearly five years. He started off in fine dining, at an entry level job as a food runner with absolutely zero experience about the industry. He had the opportunity to get into the industry as a young, totally green uni student and four years on, he's an assistant manager of a whole restaurant.

He says that, unfortunately, recently the hospitality opportunities have gone down massively. He says that you don’t hear about entry level jobs, and that it's much more difficult to get a job if you haven’t got at least a couple years of experience. Businesses in this industry simply can’t afford to train new people from scratch as the operational costs are just huge. According to Szymon, the government needs to support hospitality.

Szymon Kantor, 24, Assistant Manager, Franco Manca

The joint statement says:

“Hospitality has been a sector of opportunity for us all. The opportunity for a first job, the opportunity to learn new skills, and the opportunity to develop a hugely rewarding career.

“There is no other sector like hospitality. It is the ultimate meritocracy that rewards hard work, creativity, drive and, frankly, people who want to get things done.

“We’re all about amazing teams delivering amazing experiences, supported by people from all walks of life. From school leavers and non-graduates to people changing career or looking for a way back into work.

“We all count ourselves lucky to have started working in hospitality early in our lives. We have been afforded incredible opportunities to progress and take our careers in all sorts of directions.

“But we see firsthand the cost challenges hospitality is facing and how that’s impacting the roles available for young people. We all want young people today to have the same opportunities we did but we have to be honest, they are becoming few and far between.

“Prime Minister: hospitality will help you solve the NEETs crisis, if you just give the incredible businesses in our sector some breathing space to do what we do best.

“Back us. Back hospitality to create jobs in every postcode. We will deliver, and we will make sure the next generation doesn’t turn into the lost generation.”

1/3of all first jobs for under-25s are in hospitality.

300,000job starts for 16-24-year-olds in hospitality every year

31%of all first jobs for 16-to-24-year-olds are in hospitality