New charter designed to boost hospitality industry launched

A new charter designed to promote best practice and boost recruitment in Derbyshire’s hospitality industry has been officially launched.

The Peak District & Derbyshire Hospitality Charter was recently launched at Chatsworth House, which is part of The Devonshire Group, in front of more than 100 hospitality representatives, business leaders and education providers from across the region.

Established to combat the hospitality recruitment crisis, the charter aims to raise the profile of the hospitality industry and promote hospitality as a career of choice to parents, schools, colleges and universities.

Jo Dilley, managing director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “Since its inception, the Peak District & Derbyshire Hospitality Charter has worked hard to bring local businesses together to raise the profile of the sector and to promote the hospitality industry as a positive place to work, to inspire and sustain the next generation of talent.”

Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council, who attended the launch, said: “Hospitality is a great industry in which to build a long-term career with job opportunities at all levels, and we’re delighted to be supporting its growth and recovery through the Peak District & Derbyshire Hospitality Charter.”

The charter has been created by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire in collaboration with The Devonshire Group, Fischer’s Group, Casa Hotels, The Bakewell Bakery, The Tickled Trout and Bluebell Dairy.

It is supported by local authorities including Derbyshire County Council, the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Signing up to the Charter sees progressive hospitality businesses collectively commit to becoming better employers – and ‘Charter Champions’ – through a set of 12 pledges.

Pledges include providing a workplace environment built on the foundations of respect, fairness, equality, diversity, and opportunity – and placing employees’ wellness and career development at the heart of business operations.

In addition, Charter Champions agree to work collaboratively with education providers to improve training and apprenticeship opportunities in the sector, and to lobby Government for better sector-specific support.

Since November, the charter has already secured the support of over 50 local businesses, as well as local authorities, industry bodies and education providers including the University of Derby and Derby College.

Richard Palmer, managing director of The Devonshire Group, said: “It’s great to be bringing the Peak District & Derbyshire’s Hospitality Charter businesses together to work on improving conditions – and changing perceptions – of the hospitality sector.

“Derbyshire has such a wealth of hospitality businesses and it’s brilliant to be working as a collective on this exciting project to showcase the fantastic career opportunities that are available in the hospitality industry.

“I’d encourage any businesses who haven’t already signed up to the Charter to do so as soon as possible.”

Jo said: “To already have more than 50 businesses collectively working to support this goal is excellent – and this launch event is just the beginning.

“By working together, we can make a real difference in tackling the ongoing recruitment crisis whilst spreading the word about the benefits of hospitality training, mentoring and apprenticeships.

“We look forward to welcoming more businesses on board and we encourage businesses across the Peak District and Derbyshire to sign up and pledge their support.”

As well as the charter launch, the region’s hospitality industry has been boosted by the recent award of £1.47 million from the Government’s Community Renewal Fund following a successful application by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, working in partnership with East Midlands Chamber, the University of Derby, The Food and Drink Forum and Nottingham Business Venture.

Investment in low carbon solutions, business growth, employment, training and digital skills are among the key aims of the project, which is set to create jobs and breathe new life into local communities as part of the Government’s commitment to levelling-up the nation and achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Financial support for businesses will include growth vouchers and start-up grants of up to £2,000, plus flexible grant funding of up to £8,000 to help businesses access green solutions, adopt digital technology and receive specialist training.

Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive and Community Renewal Fund lead at East Midlands Chamber, said: “This area is a hive of entrepreneurship and we’re looking forward to assisting people to get great ideas off the ground and then scaling them up, while for more established businesses we can help them navigate their net zero and digital transformation journeys.”

To find out more about the Community Renewal Fund click here.

To promote the wide-ranging job opportunities available in the hospitality sector, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is holding a Tourism and Hospitality Jobs Fair at the Whitworth Centre in Darley Dale on Monday 21 March – with local businesses urged to get involved to promote their available careers.

For more information about this event click here.

To find out how to sign up to the Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire click here.

To watch the hospitality charter recruitment campaign video click here.