The project received £1m funding from the Barclays LifeSkills programme to provide funding to assist disadvantaged young people into apprenticeships or sustainable jobs. The first charity to use the scheme is Springboard, which helps thousands of young people into employment in the hospitality industry every year. 

Youth unemployment in London has soared by 55% since the start of the pandemic, with 21% of Londoners aged 16-24 seeking work still jobless. 

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, told the Evening Standard: “We have restaurants closing several days a week because of lack of staff so it’s a race to get young people skilled up so London can reclaim the number one spot we held in world hospitality since slipping as a result of the pandemic.

“Hospitality is the second largest employment sector in the capital and is crucial to our overall economy. This appeal is a great opportunity for young people who have borne the brunt of the pandemic. They can go from entry level to a manager earning £50,000 in two or three years.”

According to the Office for National Statistics 62% of Springboard trainees in London are from a BAME background, 46% are female and 45% had no prior experience or training.

Chris Gamm, chief executive of Springboard, added: “Employers are working hard to increase pay, improve employee work-life balance, diversify their workforce and put in place development plans that make them attractive to future talent, as well as to motivate and retain their existing teams.

"One of the biggest challenges they face, however, is convincing not just potential future employees, but also influencers like parents, teachers and careers advisors what a fulfilling and dynamic career hospitality presents, with the opportunities to quickly develop, gain transferable skills and earn a great salary in a short space of time.

"Skill Up, Step Up is a game changer for both young people who have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and the hospitality industry that are desperate to attract them to their businesses.”