Watch: Why working in hospitality in Birmingham is the business - with Glynn Purnell, the Grand Hotel & more

There are hundreds of thousands of job vacancies in the hospitality industry across the UK - and some of the opportunities in Birmingham are phenomenal!
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Chef Publishing, the team behind Chef & Restaurant Magazine, have launched their ‘Choose Hospitality, Choose Birmingham’ campaign.

The initiative is designed to attract a younger generation and retain those already working in the hospitality sector - and has so far won the backing of chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Tom Kerridge, Paul Ainsworth and Glynn Purnell.

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For the launch the Choose Hospitality Choose Birmingham team linked up with the West Midlands Hospitality Taskforce, which is spearheaded by University College Birmingham in collaboration with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the Department of Work and Pensions and other key regional stakeholders.

The event was hosted by Mayor Andy Street and Glynn Purnell at the Birmingham College of Food at University College Birmingham. Since the pandemic there are 400,000 job vacancies in the hospitality industry across the UK with a whopping 80% of businesses having vacancies, according to Big Hospitality.

Chefs Alex Claridge, Aktar Islam and Glynn Purnell with West Midlands Mayor Andy StreetChefs Alex Claridge, Aktar Islam and Glynn Purnell with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street
Chefs Alex Claridge, Aktar Islam and Glynn Purnell with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

With decades of experience in the hospitality and foodservice sector, the Chef team wanted to spread the word about the possibilities available for a career in the industry. And they are backed by some of Birmingham’s hospitality stars, including The Grand Hotel Birmingham, Albert’s Schloss in Paradise and Wine Freedom in Digbeth.

Claire Bosi, Editor of Chef magazine, said, “Hospitality is a tangible and brilliant career option yet so many either avoid or leave the sector without understanding the full breadth of what it has to offer. We wanted to create a film that conveyed the fact that there are so many options for those that love this brilliant industry.”

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Glynn Purnell, chef and owner of Purnell’s Restaurant, said, “I’m really proud to back the Choose Hospitality campaign. I believe it’s vital to not only encourage people to enter, but also stay, in the hospitality industry. The UK’s hospitality sector is brilliant: we have the most exciting restaurants, the best pubs and a thriving street food offer. It’s a real honour to be an ambassador for such a pivotal campaign.”

Chef & Restaurant Magazine is the number one publication for professional chefs. Delivered 12 times a year or via digital subscription, with publications available in the UK, New York City and the Middle East.

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