The chances of young people finding employment in Bath’s burgeoning hospitality industry have been boosted with pledges of more than 350 jobs, apprenticeships and work experience placements.
They were made when the British Hospitality Association’s (BHA) nationwide Big Hospitality Conversation tour stopped in the city.
The tour aims to find quality apprenticeships and job opportunities for young people within the hospitality industry. 
The event held at City of Bath College was by attended by over 40 local businesses including Bath Priory, The Pig, Blackman Park, Premier Inn and The Royal Crescent Hotel.
Key speakers included Bath College principal Matt Atkinson, BHA regional representative and director of Calcot Manor Paul Sadler and Pride of Britain Hotels CEO Peter Hancock.
By the end of the event commitments had been made for 112 jobs, 102 apprenticeships 153 and work experience placements.
The BHA has partnered with Barclays to support the industry body’s goal of creating 60,000 jobs in the sector by 2015.
The Big Hospitality Conversation showcases the variety of career paths available to young people in the hospitality industry, and help local employers to find young people who are keen to start a career with them.
Research shows that the hospitality and leisure industry is a crucial creator of jobs and growth across Britain with more than 2.7m people employed in the sector and is the fourth largest industry in the UK, delivering £53bn a year in GVA (wages and profits) to the economy.
Mike Saul, Head of Hospitality and Leisure at Barclays, commented: “As one of the largest industries in the country, the hospitality and leisure sector has an important role to play in driving growth across the UK. Indeed it is vital to Bath’s economy which welcomes 4.5million visitors each year, generating over £348m. Barclays is committed to supporting this growth, and it’s vital that our next generation of workers are able to access the varied and fulfilling career opportunities that exist within it.”
