Hospitality Careers Guide
Love the idea of making memorable experiences for people? The hospitality industry is more than hotels and restaurants. You could find yourself working on cruise ships, managing incredible events, or being a concierge at luxury resorts.
If you're a people person who wants to develop your problem-solving and organisational skills, a career in hospitality could be perfect for you.
This is your guide to hospitality careers and how you can get started early.
What is Hospitality?
Hospitality is everywhere. It’s the heart that keeps people connected, welcomed, and cared for. From hotels and concerts to meals with friends, it’s the industry that makes experiences memorable. Working in hospitality is more than a job; it’s about people, service, and creating moments that matter.
In a hospitality role, you could be greeting guests at a hotel reception, serving meals in a restaurant, coordinating events and weddings, mixing drinks behind a bar, or ensuring rooms are spotless as part of housekeeping. You might work at festivals, marshalling the venue, guiding tourists through new destinations, managing bookings at a travel agency, or supporting guests at leisure centres and spas. Whatever the setting, you're creating positive experiences and making people feel genuinely valued and cared for.
It’s made up of these 5 key sectors:
Lodging
Covers all forms of accommodation, such as hotels, holiday lets, resorts and holiday parks
Food & Beverage
From casual restaurants to pop up trucks to fine dining
Travel & Tourism
Includes services like transportation, tour operators, and destination management
Meetings & Events
Focuses on organising and hosting events
Entertainment
Includes attractions, theme parks, sports events, spa experiences and more
Let’s explore how you can take your first steps into hospitality through gaining hands-on experience, developing practical skills, and building the foundation employers are looking for.
How do I get a job in the hospitality industry?
Thinking about hospitality after school or college? An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn, gaining real industry experience from day one.
Hands-on experience is what sets you apart. Working in real hospitality environments - whether it's a hotel, restaurant, or event venue - builds the practical skills employers value most. You'll learn the industry from the inside while earning a salary and gaining qualifications.
Whether you're finishing your GCSEs, completing college or ready to start your career, hospitality apprenticeships offer a clear path forward. Explore the options below to find your perfect fit.
Events Management Apprenticeships
Read our guide to events management apprenticeships to learn exactly what events management is, how events management apprenticeships work, and why you should do one.
Leisure & Hospitality Apprenticeships
Fancy yourself as the next Gordon Ramsay? Or find yourself whipping up tasty baked goods that are worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake or two? If so, then an apprenticeship in leisure and hospitality could be perfect for you.
Who could I work for?
One of the best aspects of hospitality? The incredible range of employers offering fantastic work experience opportunities. Commonly known as the Top 5 in hospitality, employers include the Whitbread Group, the InterContinental Hotels Group, Travelodge, Accor SA and Marriott International.
According to our student-written reviews, these are some of the best student employers to work for in hospitality:
Throughout my role as an F&B Manager, I have gained a strong set of skills crucial to efficient hospitality operations. I've developed expertise in stock management, including accurate forecasting, inventory control, and minimising waste to maintain optimal levels and reduce costs. My experience in people management has strengthened my leadership abilities - building, training, and motivating a team of 30 staff to deliver high standards of service. I have successfully organised and executed large-scale summer events, from concept to completion, enhancing customer experience and driving revenue. Additionally, I’ve sharpened my understanding of profit margins, learning to make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and boost profitability across the department. It's a fantastic place to work. Food and Beverage Apprentice, David Lloyd's Club
Want to know what it’s like to work in the hospitality industry? We have thousands of student-written apprenticeship reviews to browse through.
What are the highest-paying jobs in hospitality?
You might be wondering: is a job in hospitality actually well paid?
The short answer is yes - and you'll have plenty of opportunities to progress financially as you work your way up. During your work experience years, you could earn a salary between £19,000 and £28,000 per year.
See the breakdown:
Once you enter the world of work after finishing your apprenticeship, your earning potential increases significantly. This figure will depend on your chosen field within hospitality and the management level you reach.
What does the future look like in hospitality?
Here's the thing: your work experience is valuable, no matter what industry it's in. From part-time shifts to insight schemes and apprenticeships, every role helps you build skills that employers want. Hospitality is very generalised; it could take you wherever you want it to! Skills gained through hospitality work experience can translate into management, events, tourism, sales, operations, and beyond.
Start at Level 2 and you can climb to Level 3, then progress to a higher or degree apprenticeship. Each level brings new opportunities and higher earnings.
Here are a few examples of where work experience in hospitality can take you in the future:
General Manager (GM)
Director of Operations
Regional/ Area Manager
Director of Food & Beverage
Senior Hospitality Manager
Culinary Director
Events Manager.
