Hospitality Connect secures £200,000 from Savoy Educational Trust

Not-for-profit organisation Hospitality Connect has secured £200,000 in funding from the Savoy Educational Trust as it seeks to broaden its reach across the UK.

The initiative to connect secondary schools with local hotels was founded by 2022 Hotelier of the Year Adrian Ellis in the year before he held the title.

Over the years, it has supported 4,000 students into opportunities for employment.

The project has grown from 30 partnerships in Manchester to now over 150 partnerships across 16 cities and regions in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The scheme has also set its sights on reaching 400 partnerships and engaging 10,000 students per year by 2028.  

Ellis said: “We would like to thank Savoy Educational Trust for their generous contribution and continued support of our mission. Their support fuels our passion to shine a light on one of the UK’s most dynamic and diverse sectors – hospitality, the country’s third largest employer.

“At Hospitality Connect, we are not just opening doors, we’re transforming mindsets. We want young people, their teachers, and their families to see the vast potential, creativity and opportunity this industry holds. We believe our project has the potential to grow significantly over the next few years and beyond as we encourage more young people to consider careers in the industry.”

Angela Maher, chief executive at the Savoy Educational Trust, added: “We are looking forward to seeing the programme expand over the coming three years, enabling many more school pupils learn about the wonderful opportunities available in our industry and creating a much-needed talent pipeline for the sector.”

The grant from the Savoy Educational Trust will run from 2025 to 2028.