York schools are being matched with hotels in a pioneering initiative.
Hospitality Association York (HAY) have launched Hospitality Connect, a partnership promoting the hospitality sector to a young student audience.
The programme aims to improve the image of the sector and tackle ongoing recruitment challenges.
Ten schools have been matched with ten hotels across York. In the coming months students will have the chance to have hands-on experiences at the hotels.
Hotel managers and team members will also visit schools to deliver talks, host career workshops, and share insight into a career in hospitality.
The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Chris Cullwick, was at the launch of the project at Middlethorpe Hall Hotel.
“This is a real step change for the city, in a vitally important part of our economy,” he said.
“To be bringing together the schools and the industry in the city in this way is exciting and it’s timely.”
Chair of HAY Adam Wardale said the launch was a big success. “It was great to see so many schools and hotels come together in support of this project, as well as the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress, and combined authority mayoral candidates.”
Hospitality represents 25% of the workforce in York and North Yorkshire.
Hospitality Connect “will showcase the varied career opportunities in hospitality, support schools to fulfil their Gatsby benchmarks and nurture ambition and develop skills in secondary school pupils,” said Adam.
“It’s fantastic to get it up and running.”