Published: 27 February 2024
‘Passionate, Inspirational, and Enthusiastic’
On 22 February, the University of Sunderland in London (UoSiL) hosted the 5th annual Hospitality Jobs UK Conference. Welcoming over 130 industry recruitment leaders, from over 100 companies, who engaged with the university’s talented and passionate hospitality students.
For an industry that is ‘all about people’, connecting with future hospitality talent and understanding the needs of the workforce is critical. With this in mind, the HJUK annual conference, organised in collaboration with Hospitality and Universities United, offered delegates a ‘feast’ of topics on recruitment and retention to make a success of 2024 (and beyond).
The conference welcomed industry leaders from firms, including FTSE-100 Compass Group, Burger King, and smaller pub companies including Hall & Woodhouse – ensuring all parts of the sector were represented.
The university’s students, some of whom are already making a positive impact in the hospitality sector, were key contributors to the event. This included showcasing their ‘Vision Boards’ to industry recruitment leaders – outlining their stories, skills, and career aspirations.
Students also shared their insight during an engaging panel discussion entitled ‘GenZ Talks: Expectations of the Future Workforce’. Georgiana Moldoveanu, one of two UoSiL students taking part, made an inspirational contribution and exuded her passion for the industry, explaining how it is about “creating experiences, not just serving people.”
Reflecting on the event and the excellent impression made by the students, Dawn Lawrence, Founder of Hospitality Jobs UK, said “The excitement, passion, and enthusiasm - shown by the University of Sunderland in London students today – is exactly what we are looking for in the future of hospitality.”
HJUK’s collaboration with the university - including the support, infrastructure, and ideas – goes from strength to strength. Thank you, to the university, for once again hosting our annual conference.”
The conference was a fantastic opportunity to connect our students with hospitality industry recruitment leaders. Our students were brilliant at showcasing their experience and enthusiasm for hospitality, and outlining their future careers expectations – demonstrating to employers what they need to do to attract and retain industry talent.