An Introduction to the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism industry

The Hospitality, Leisure, and Tourism industry is one of the most diverse and fast-paced career sectors, offering opportunities to work in the UK and across the world. Whether managing a luxury hotel, organising large-scale events, working for a top airline, or helping travellers plan their perfect holiday, this industry is all about creating memorable experiences.

Despite the challenges of recent years, the sector remains one of the UK’s biggest employers, with around 3.2 million people working in roles that range from front-line customer service to business management and operations. In 2023 alone, the Travel and Tourism industry contributed nearly £240 billion to the UK economy—highlighting its importance and resilience.

In this month’s blog, we’ll explore the skills you need, career paths you can take, and the different routes into the industry, from university degrees to apprenticeships and hands-on experience.

What skills and attributes will I need?

Jobs in this industry are primarily people-focused, so if you enjoy meeting and helping people from different places and backgrounds and providing a high level of customer service whilst working as part of a team, this could be the career for you!   You will need to be flexible and possibly be prepared to work unsociable shifts. No two days are the same and you will be constantly learning, therefore it is important that you can be adaptable to change. 

Which school subjects are useful?

Studying Travel and Tourism, Business, Economics, Geography, Languages or Sport/Physical Education at GCSE or A Level will put you in good stead for a career in this industry.

Career paths - Hospitality

A career in hospitality may include the following roles:

• Hotel Manager
• Hotel Receptionist
• Restaurant Manager
• Food and Beverage Team member
• Chef
• Events Manager

 For the latest Hospitality news and job listings, take a look at  Hospitality UK.

 For information on Events Management take a look at The Event Manager’s Institute.

Careers Paths – Travel, Tourism and Leisure

If you want to work in Travel and Tourism or Leisure, the following roles may be of interest:

• Travel Agent
• Tourist Board Officer
• Holiday Representative
• Hotel Manager
• Pilot
• Air Cabin Crew
• Theme Park Manager
• Lifeguard
• Leisure Centre Manager
• Leisure Centre Receptionist
• Retail Manager
• Exchange Bureau Clerk
• Various roles at the airport, such as a baggage check in officer or a baggage handler
• Various roles on a Cruise ship

 For more information and job listings in the UK and abroad go to Leisure Jobs

College, University or Apprenticeship?

There are many career pathways into the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry. You might like to consider a Hospitality or Hotel Management degree course. Visit UCAS - Explore Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism for more information, and search for courses via UCAS.

The Edge Hotel School in the UK combines academic studies with practical training in a fully operational 4-star hotel, Wivenhoe House, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world hospitality setting.

There are also some well-known hotel schools in Switzerland such as Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and Swiss Education Group -  an alliance of international schools specialising in hospitality, business and culinary arts, but do check fees carefully.

Apprenticeships

Several hotels, restaurants and travel organisations offer apprenticeships, providing opportunities to earn while gaining practical experience and qualifications.

Apprenticeships in the hospitality sector in the UK are structured across various levels, each corresponding to specific roles and responsibilities. Here's an overview:

Level 2 (Intermediate Apprenticeships):

• Hospitality Team Member: Develops skills across various functions, including food and beverage service, housekeeping, and front office.
• Commis Chef: Focuses on basic culinary skills, food preparation, and understanding kitchen operations.

Level 3 (Advanced Apprenticeships):

• Hospitality Supervisor: Prepares individuals to supervise teams in areas like food and beverage service, housekeeping, and events.
• Senior Chef (Production Cooking): Emphasises advanced cooking techniques and kitchen management.

Level 4 (Higher Apprenticeships):

• Hospitality Manager: Equips apprentices with skills to manage operations, focusing on delivering excellent customer experiences.
• Senior Chef (Culinary Arts): Concentrates on sophisticated culinary skills and creative menu development.

These apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job training with academic learning, offering a structured pathway for career progression in the hospitality industry.

Hotels Offering Apprenticeships

• Red Carnation Hotels: Offers apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 6 in areas such as culinary arts, front of house, housekeeping, sales, events, finance, human resources, and operations management.

• Hilton Hotels: Provides apprenticeships that combine on-the-job training with off-the-job learning across various departments, including hotel operations and culinary services.

• Marriott International: Offers apprenticeship qualifications from Level 2 to Level 7 across departments such as hotel operations, engineering, golf greenkeeping, sales, and leadership.

• Leonardo Hotels: Provides apprenticeships for those leaving school or looking to retrain in hospitality, offering full-time employment while completing training during working hours.

• Apex Hotels: Offers apprenticeships as an alternative to university or college, providing practical experience in various hotel departments.

 Restaurants Offering Apprenticeships

• Pizza Express: Offers nationally recognised qualifications through its Apprenticeship Scheme, covering various topics to support career progression.

• Greene King: Provides a range of apprenticeships across pubs, restaurants, and breweries, including roles in culinary arts, hospitality, leadership, and brewing.

• Mitchells & Butlers: Offers hospitality apprenticeships for positions such as Chef and Bar & Waiting staff, with structured training and development.

• The Big Table Group: Provides a variety of apprenticeship programmes at all levels, from Kitchen Assistant to Company Director, across their restaurant brands.

• McDonald's: Provides apprenticeship programmes for roles such as Crew Member, Customer Care Assistant, Customer Experience Leader, and Shift Leader.

Types of Travel Apprenticeships:

• Travel Consultant (Level 3): Focuses on making travel arrangements and booking services for holidaymakers and business travellers. This apprenticeship typically lasts 12 months and is equivalent to an A-level qualification.

• Passenger transport operations manager (level 4) : Involves assisting passengers and ensuring their luggage boards the correct aircraft.

• Cabin Crew (Level 3): Trains individuals to ensure passenger safety and comfort during flights.

• Travel Consultant (Level 3): Focuses on assisting clients in planning and booking their travel arrangements.

Notable Apprenticeship Providers:

• TUI Group: Offers apprenticeships in finance, engineering, and customer service, providing comprehensive training and support.

• Hays Travel: Provides programmes in travel consultancy, customer service, business administration, marketing, and ICT, in collaboration with local training providers.

• Fred. Olsen Travel: Offers apprenticeships in travel consultancy, customer service, business administration, marketing, and ICT, working with local training providers to support qualification completion.

• British Airways: Provides full-time apprenticeships across customer, business, and operations teams, designed to offer a strong start in the aviation industry.

How much can I earn?

Salaries in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry can vary considerably, depending on the sector, level of experience and location of the job.  A Hotel Manager can earn around an average of around £50,000 per annum in the London area, a member of airline cabin crew may earn around £21,000 per annum (excluding flight duty pay and other related allowances), and an entry level salary for a Chef may start around £23,000 per annum.

What work experience is available?

Work experience placements can provide valuable experience and show that you are committed to finding out more about a career in the sector.  Many part-time jobs are available in this industry to fit in around your studies and possibly lead to a permanent position or ‘foot in the door’ to your dream job!  Why not ask around at local hotels, restaurants, or travel agencies for part-time job opportunities?

British Airways offer a work experience programme, you can find out more here.

There may also be virtual work experience opportunities available. Springpod offer virtual work experience with TUI for young people aged 14+ – find out more here.

Case Study – A Career in Leisure Management

Meet George, a Team Leader at a Leisure Centre in Berkshire.  George began work at sixteen, as a part-time Lifeguard & Recreation Assistant.  He studied the NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity at college and also gained the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). George was offered a full-time position as Team Leader when he turned eighteen and now trains lifeguards while training to become a UK Trainer Assessor (TA).

George says: “When I was at school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do in the future, all I knew is that I enjoyed sport and lifeguarding.  I am now really enjoying my role as a Team Leader.  Every day is different and I never know what challenges I will be faced with!  My biggest yet was dealing with a serious poolside medical emergency- in this job you need to be alert and responsive – it’s my responsibility to ensure that everyone is safe.  I am learning so much about leisure management and I’m looking forward to becoming a TA once I’ve completed my training. In the future, I hope to become a Duty Manager and complete a personal training course as I am passionate about fitness!”

Explore further

If you’re interested in a career in travel, ABTA have Careers and Education pages on their website that can point you in the right direction.

The plans to expand Heathrow Airport may generate future job opportunities.  Check out this link: Heathrow Apprenticeships

Take a look at Trailfinders Graduate Scheme for information and opportunities or the Kuoni graduate scheme here.

Join Fred Sirieux as he trains young Brits to run a luxury hotel on Fred's Last Resort (stream free on Channel 4)

Watch these helpful clips on You Tube Components of Tourism by Tourism teacher Dr. Hailey Stanton.

At FutureSmart Careers, we have trained professionals and our mission is to provide careers guidance, knowledge and resources so that young people can make confident and informed choices about their futures.  If you would like careers guidance or support for students in your school, college or child, please get in touch at enquiries@futuresmartcareers.co.uk  

Images sourced from Freepik