UK Charity Springboard Awarded Vital Grant from Hilton Effect Foundation to Train Young People for Jobs in Hospitality Industry

LONDON - U.K. hospitality charity Springboard has been named as a 2021 Grant recipient of the Hilton Effect Foundation. Grants were awarded to organisations across the world for going above and beyond to support those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and will be used to advance Springboard’s work in helping young and unemployed people to upskill and progress into employment within the hospitality industry. This is the second time Springboard has been awarded a Hilton Effect Foundation Grant, in recognition of their continued efforts, after first receiving one in 2020. 

Springboard will use the 2021 Hilton Effect Foundation Grant to deliver essential new employability training programmes, starting in spring 2022. The programmes will include short courses aimed at inspiring school-leavers to join the industry, and longer courses that will help young, unemployed adults gain the confidence and skills for a career in hospitality. 

The course work includes pre-programme preparation in school; sessions on roles within the industry and entry routes; tour of local hotels; presentation from hospitality professionals, including hands-on activities; participation in Customer Care sessions; team-building activity; and more. The programmes’ tailored training and support will give participants increased confidence and motivation, transferable and sector-specific skills, and insight into the industry.

The activities will involve beneficiaries aged 16+ from across the U.K. and Republic of Ireland, with the majority in areas where the need is greatest, including the Midlands and the Republic of Ireland.

Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said, “Over the last year we have worked tirelessly with our partners to provide employers with a pipeline of talent, giving them the space to focus on the current challenge of rebuilding from the Coronavirus pandemic. We are honoured to receive this Grant from the Hilton Effect Foundation to support our work. As we move into 2022, despite challenges our industry has faced, we look forward to continuing our work in attracting more young people to start careers in the hospitality industry. The Grant will allow us to continue to support employers and reach our target of getting 10,000 young people into jobs within the sector.” 

Stephen Cassidy, senior vice president and managing director, U.K. and Ireland, Hilton, and board member, Hilton Effect Foundation said, “We are thrilled to award Springboard with a second Hilton Effect Foundation grant. A hugely deserving recipient, the hospitality charity is using the funds towards an exciting new curriculum to promote hospitality careers in the U.K. and help unemployed people to access jobs within the sector. With the pandemic still having an enormous impact on our sector, it is vital we inspire people to join our vibrant and diverse industry and support them in their journey. 2022 is set to be a pivotal year for hospitality, so we will be working closely with Springboard to showcase and nurture the fantastic career opportunities available in the industry.” 

The Springboard charity was selected from hundreds of organisations that were considered for Hilton Effect Foundation Grants. Each of the 2021 Grantees are committed to having a long-term, meaningful impact on the people and communities they serve, by driving progress on critical environmental or social challenges. 

The Hilton Effect Foundation was launched in 2019 as part of Hilton’s 100th-anniversary celebration, to further ensure that the Hilton Effect would continue for generations to come. With the mission to create a better world to travel, the Foundation invests in both organisations and people having a positive impact on the communities Hilton serves. 

As a long-standing partner of Springboard, Hilton also supports the charity’s FutureChef and Ambassadors programmes. FutureChef is the largest National School Cooking Programme in the U.K., educating young people on cookery skills, nutrition, healthy eating and culinary/catering careers.

Springboard’s ambassador scheme gives Hilton employees the opportunity to volunteer within their local community, using their skills and talents to inspire the next generation of hospitality employees.

The Springboard Charity Project Information – Springboard to 2022

Working nationally across the U.K. and Ireland, Springboard to 2022 is the industry solution to tackling hospitality, leisure, and tourism’s long-term staffing crisis. We want to give the industry space to focus on the current challenge of rebuilding from the Coronavirus pandemic, while Springboard ensures there is a skilled and engaged talent pipeline ready for when the industry needs it. Our goal is to have 10,000 young people trained and ready for work, in line with industry’s recovery, by 2022.

About Springboard

Springboard was established in 1990 to support the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry and those seeking employment within it, with three key aims:

• To advance the life and education of those under the age of 25, through the provision of advice, training and skills courses.
• To relieve poverty and unemployment by assisting people to secure jobs in the hospitality sector.
• Tackle ongoing problems the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries face, including staff and skills shortages and misrepresentation about what a fulfilling career they offer. 

About Hilton Effect Foundation

The Hilton Effect Foundation is Hilton’s primary international philanthropic arm. The Foundation is a nonprofit established in the U.S. and is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Foundation awards Grants, in alignment with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, that have a positive impact on travel destinations around the world. Foundation Grants are awarded throughout the year in accordance with tax and legal requirements. Learn more about the Hilton Effect Foundation at HiltonEffect.org.