Hospitality and Tourism

Careers in Hospitality and Tourism

A career in the world of leisure, tourism and hospitality is full of opportunities, often with fast progression to management level. Particularly within hospitality many a famous face started out as an apprentice or a school leaver.

The catering and hospitality sector serves up a host of different apprenticeships in restaurants, cafés, pubs, bars, nightclubs and hotels. The sector also includes customer service roles, as well as working in the supply network that provides food and drink to other industries. You could train as a chef in a restaurant, or learn how to cook on a large scale for institutions such as the NHS. You could also be 'front of house' welcoming guests or helping management ensure effective day-to-day operations.

Looking further afield, the travel industry is an exciting place to be right now. Travel companies are experiencing huge demand and with this growth comes many different and exciting career opportunities. The jobs in travel are wide ranging, from sales, marketing, IT and digital transformation, to managing sustainability programmes and working abroad. 

Skills needed in this sector include teamwork, time-management, interpersonal, communication, creativity and organisational skills.  The sector naturally has a very hands-on approach to work, with lots of ‘on the job’ learning and direct interaction with customers. The sector has been involved in offering apprenticeship and school leaver opportunities for years - so you’ll find lots of opportunities out there for you, not just in the UK but worldwide!

People's leisure time is so important to them and it is not to be underestimated how much impact you can have on a person's wellbeing by being involved in hospitality, leisure and tourism. The sector provides fun, relaxation, culture, music, laughter and friendship, so rest assured by having a career in this sector you are making a difference to people's lives.

Hear from local residents working at Lussmanns, a popular Hertfordshire based sustainable restaurant, Paradise Wildlife Park, a fun tourist attraction and Hanbury Manor Marriott, a luxury hotel, about their career pathways into Hospitality and Tourism.

HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM IN HERTFORDSHIRE

You will never be stuck for things to do in Hertfordshire, from stunning stately homes, wild days out, cultural escapes and magical memories - Hertfordshire (or Herts as we like to call it) is the perfect place for leisure.

Just 20 minutes from London by train but still far away from the stresses of the big city, our lush, green county is brimming with exciting things to do and some seriously great places to stay. Explore famous sites such as St Albans Cathedral, Hatfield House, Knebworth House, or capture the magic of Harry Potter with a visit to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. And if you're looking for wild beasts, Roman ruins, sculpture gardens, year-round snow, traditional English villages, 5* luxury or boutique B&Bs, Hertfordshire is the place to be.

With 71,000 employees working within the industry in Hertfordshire, the local visitor economy topped £2.4 billion for the first time ever in 2019, with 29 million visitors welcomed to the county throughout the year. Check out the infographic below to discover some of the job roles within the sector and discover some amazing employers on your doorstep.

DIFFERENT CAREER PATHWAYS INTO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

JOB ROLES

Explore job roles in the hospitality and tourism in the HOP Careers Directory. Understand the main tasks within job roles and average salaries, learn about which qualifications you should consider studying at further and higher education. 

TRAINING COURSES

Here you can find local further education qualifications and short courses needed for Hospitality and Tourism

APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprenticeships are a great way start a career in hospitality and tourism and include Chef, hospitality supervisor, event assistant, travel consultant or cabin crew. 

You can find out more detail on what each apprenticeship qualification involves through the Institute of Apprenticeships. Learn all about getting started with apprenticeships here.

Higher Education

The University of Hertfordshire's School of Event Management and Tourism provides undergraduate qualifications to help you to explore the world and learn to give others the experience of a lifetime through sharing your passion of travel and events. Combining a traditional business degree with a focus on travel and events, you will gain a global understanding of economics, events and travel enabling you to develop key skills in project management, leadership and organisation.