Aiming to inspire students to consider a career in hospitality, the event saw more than 120 young adults from around Nottinghamshire come together to get involved in workshops. There was also a cooking demonstration from MasterChef: The Professionals 2018 winner Laurence Henry.

Laurence Henry, chef patron at Cleaver & Wake, said: “This event was a particularly special one for me as many of the students who attended reminded me of myself when I was just starting out. It was great to be able to share my story with them while highlighting the many benefits of a career in hospitality.  

“Getting young adults involved in hands-on workshops, from live cooking sessions to interactive service runs, really brings to life how vibrant and varied the hospitality sector is. It has so many opportunities that many people don’t realise, especially when leaving school. That’s why events like this are so important. It really was a fantastic day which hopefully helped to inspire a few of the students to consider a career in hospitality.”

Throughout the day, the students also participated in a variety of challenges, tours and ‘inspirational’ talks from experienced individuals in the industry. 

Rebekah Henry, senior careers, education and employability programme manager for the midlands, added: “For us, these events are a really important opportunity to help encourage young adults to gain the vital skills, knowledge and experience needed to flourish in a lifelong career within this amazing industry. Springboard works with industries such as hospitality, leisure and tourism to advocate, support and celebrate them while addressing skills and staff shortages.  

“A survey taken by attendees after the event showed 60% of students who had not considered a career in hospitality were now considering it, while 89% stated that the event gave them a better understanding of the industry. It’s results like this that really highlight the importance of what we do.”