When I first stepped into hospitality, it wasn’t part of a grand career plan. I was a casual barman looking to earn a bit of money, work with people, and be part of a fast-paced, exciting environment. What I didn’t realise then was that this part-time job would spark a career that would take me through every layer of hotel operations, culminating in opening new properties and managing large-scale teams.

Pushing people into management positions to soon often leads to burnout and resignations, so how can we create a more sensitive and rewarding career pathway?

With operating costs on the rise and profit margins narrowing, the recent hike in National Insurance contributions is adding significant strain to already constrained payroll budgets. Amidst all this chaos, it is imperative that we don’t lose sight of what the hospitality industry is all about: people and connection.