Fair play

The hospitality industry was on a recruitment mission at this year's Opportunities London careers fair. Jessica Gunn joined the job-seekers and hopeful employers.

Some of the hospitality industry's biggest names were out in force at this year's Opportunities London careers fair. Some 18 companies, including Groupe Chez Gérard, Compass and Radisson Edwardian, were on a mission to find new recruits at every level.

This year's expanded event, which took place on 19-20 September at London's Kensington Olympia, hosted exhibitors from the travel, retail, science and technology, construction and corporate sectors, as well as hospitality. More than 5,300 people visited the fair over the two days - more than double last year's number. A total of 80 companies were exhibiting.

"We've had fantastic feedback from both exhibitors and visitors so far," said Paul Cook, sales director for the fair. "We've had record attendance and most importantly, according to the exhibitors, lots of good-quality candidates in attendance."

Michael McClan, 31, moved to England from Chicago seven months ago and was at the fair looking for a career change. "At the moment, I'm a project manager in the telecommunications business," he said. "I'd like to move into the hospitality industry for some stability in life. The hours aren't as long as in telecommunications."

Crowne Plaza is soon to open a new four-star de luxe hotel in Blackfriars, London, and it was at the fair looking for people to fill all positions. "We've filled 12 posts so far," said HR manager Katy Dunton. "We're still looking for another 95."

Public relations was also an important element for exhibitors this year. Regent Inns recruitment officer Bridget Macleod stressed that Regent represented many well-known brands that offered diverse opportunities to those looking to enter the industry. "We have careers, not jobs, to offer," she said.

England has a lot to learn about the hospitality industry, according to Nicola Gell and Stephen Woodman, both 24. "America is a lot more service-orientated than the UK," they agreed. "Service methods are more efficient and the training is much better." Both have worked in New York and hope to see UK standards follow suit soon. "What we like about the industry is that it is so social and vibrant."

After finishing at catering college in Watford in June, Rebecca Moore, 21, is bored working as assistant manager in a rural pub. "I want to work for a big company, somewhere big and dynamic, which offers some variety in life," she said.

Working in an international hotel would be 30-year-old Nicola Pegues‘s dream job. The opportunity to travel is a key motivating factor for many of those interested in joining the hospitality industry. "At the moment, I'm waitressing," she said, "but after talking with Chez Gérard today, I've got an interview set up for next week."

"We've already spotted two people we want to employ today," said Tehmina Mahmood, recruitment officer for Radisson Edwardian. "We're looking for problem-solvers who can make a difference to the company. If we find a good person, we will invest in training them."

Having recently graduated in hotel management in Portugal, Miguel Pereira, 25, has come to the UK for more experience. "Part of Portugal's philosophy on training is to have experience of another country," he said. "As most of Portugal's tourism comes from Britain, I thought it would be a good idea to come here and see what they want"

Creativity and passion were what Andy Magson, head chef at Livebait, and Sophie Darmas, HR administrator for Groupe Chez Gérard, said were needed for life in a restaurant kitchen. "Being a chef is your life," said Magson, "not just a job."

Springboard Careers Festival 2001

Springboard UK is gearing up for its third annual career's festival, set to run from 15 to 22 October. As last year, the festival will feature a week of activities throughout the country, aimed at raising the profile of the leisure and hospitality industry in the public's eyes as well as drawing more people into it.

"The tourism industry, in all its forms, is one often judged to be full of people who can't do anything else," says Kevan Doyle, events co-ordinator at Springboard. "People's ideas are based on stereotypes, long hours, bad pay and Basil Fawlty."

The aim of the Springboard festival is to challenge these preconceptions. "We want to show people what a diverse industry it is," says Doyle. "And how many career opportunities there are within it."

Last year, about 158,000 people were involved in the festival, two-thirds of whom were job-seekers. Some 750 businesses participated in about 1,000 events around the country, and £1.7m of media coverage was generated in local and national press.

"It's about profile," says Mary Wood, training manager for Groupe Chez Gérard. "The more high-profile people we can involve and the more faces people start to recognise, the more attractive the industry will become to newcomers." This year Chez Gérard is sponsoring the Future Chef event, a competition for young chefs. "It's the influencers that have a real impact," says Wood. "Teachers and parents don't always have a positive view of the industry and we need to show them that isn't true."

Springboard's primary new initiatives for the 2001 festival are a Groundhog Day programme and a disability conference and job fair. The Groundhog Day (or Buddy) scheme is designed to give people a chance to experience work in the tourism and hospitality business first hand. This means they get the opportunity to shadow someone in the industry for a day or more.

"My own son spent a day at the Heathrow Méridien Excelsior Hotel last year," says Garth Buckle of the Hounslow Education Business Partnership, which has been involved in the festival for several years. "He liked it so much he went back to do two weeks work experience. These kind of initiatives are absolutely vital if the hospitality and tourism industry wants to attract good-quality recruits."

Disability 2001 (Chelsea Village, 23 October) will focus on getting more disabled people into the industry and educating employers on the implications of the Disability Act.

"We need to take every opportunity to bang the drum of this industry as a good career option," says Eimear O'Brien, regional recruitment and retention manager at Queen's Moat House Hotels, which is involved again this year in the festival. "The disabled market, like many others, is not targeted enough by the tourism industry."

Another side-effect of the festival is the networking opportunities available between the industry and recruitment agencies. "We've had much greater communication with local schools and job centres since last year's festival," says O'Brien. "It's important that when potential candidates ask about opportunities that they are given an accurate picture of the opportunities involved."

Contacts

For events near you or to get involved, contact Kevan Doyle, festival and events director: 020 7497 8654
E-mail:info.festival@springboarduk.org.uk
Web site:www.springboarduk.org.uk
See 25 October issue for a report on Groundhog Day