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Choose Hospitality Pledge inspires almost 1,000 students across City of York and Brighton

Over the last month we’ve been out on the road with The Choose Hospitality Pledge, inspiring students to consider a career in hospitality. 

We've been joined by ambassadors from across the sector to bring the world of hospitality to life for secondary school students. In total, we visited 12 schools and met with almost 975 year 8 and 9 students, sparking conversations about creativity, teamwork and the breadth of opportunities available in one of the UK’s most dynamic industries. 

What is the Choose Hospitality Pledge?

The Choose Hospitality Pledge is an industry-wide initiative driven by us at Nestlé Professional, Choose Hospitality and Springboard Careerscope to transform perceptions of the hospitality industry and address the major skilled worker shortage. It brings together education and business to galvanise change and take steps to encourage more young people to consider a career in the hospitality sector. 

Choose Hospitality Pledge

City of York Takeover

The City of York Takeover saw 8 schools and more than 900 Year 8 students take part in hands-on workshops designed and delivered by North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership and intended to bring the world of hospitality to life for young people.

Each session featured industry ambassadors from organisations including Whitbread, BaxterStorey and Toque d'Or finalists from our 2025 competition, Tom Brassington, Katie Blundell and Olivia Cartlidge. Sessions encouraged students to think differently about hospitality, with engaging demonstrations and interactive challenges to highlight how creativity, teamwork and problem-solving are at the heart of this industry.

Sodexo Live Brighton and Hove Event

In Brighton and Hove we hosted a panel session and interactive workshop with Sodexo Live to introduce students to the Choose Hospitality Pledge. The panel was moderated by Antonia Macfarlane, Business Development Manager at Pol Roger Portfolio, and included James Candy, Customer Manager at Nestlé Professional; Serin Hassan, Toque d’Or finalist and Green Spatula winner; Bryan Grierson, Operations Director at Springboard; Melvyn Funnell-Strange, General Manager at Sodexo Live, and Steven Edwards, Chef Restaurateur at etch.  

The interactive panel was followed by activities like mocktail making and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Brighton and Hove Albion Amex Stadium, designed to help students see hospitality in action, and showcase how skills such as communication, problem-solving and adaptability translate into rewarding careers. 

We’re incredibly proud of the reach and impact of this year’s activities. Nearly 1,000 young people have had the opportunity to experience hospitality in a new light, not just as a job, but as a vibrant, creative career path.
Julia Jones
Julia Jones
Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Nestlé Professional
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Building on this success, we're already planning further activities in 2026, continuing our mission to inspire the next generation of hospitality talent and challenge outdated perceptions of the industry. If you would like to join us as an ambassador at any of these events simply register your details via Springboard CareerScope to find all future opportunities to support local schools in hospitality-related activities. 

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