Attracting & Retaining Talent: Key Takeaways from the Hospitality Titans Panel
On Tuesday 25th March, Hospitality Titans hosted a panel discussion at Caravan in Covent Garden focused on one of the industry’s most pressing issues: attracting, retaining, and developing talent in hospitality.
With ongoing recruitment challenges, shifting employee expectations, and upcoming legislative changes, the conversation felt especially timely. The evening offered practical insights into workplace culture, career development, legal preparedness, and how to reimagine the employee experience.
🔍 What We Explored
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How to make hospitality an attractive long-term career choice
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The role of apprenticeships and training programmes in developing talent
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Supporting career progression through upskilling, mentorship and leadership
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Engagement strategies that actually work
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The impact of technology and AI on the future of hospitality careers
🎤 Insights from Our Panel
Amanda Smyth
People Director at ETM Group
Key Point:
Our employees are at the very heart of our industry, so include them in creating and embedding a culture they want to be part of. Using simple and memorable anagrams for your values is a quick win—don’t be afraid to involve the team in the process. Great examples include:
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EPIC – Excellence, Passion, Integrity, Challenge & Creativity – ETM Group
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H&M – Here for You, Make it Simple – from retailer H&M
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ENRICH – Excellence, Nurture, Respect, Integrity, Care, Honesty – Inn-telligence
Key Takeaway:
We have the energy and enthusiasm to create more holistic approaches to attracting and retaining top talent. Now, we need collective commitment and pace to make it happen—together.
Mike Worley
Managing Director at HIT Training
Key Point:
To attract and retain talent, you must show what makes your business a great place to work. Culture and values are just as important as pay and benefits. Younger professionals want to know how they’ll fit in and grow. A clear career pathway and ongoing development—like apprenticeships—show you’re invested in their future.
Key Takeaway:
Upcoming changes to employment legislation (e.g. zero-hours contracts, day-one rights) pose a real challenge and risk undermining the sector’s efforts to offer flexible employment.
Calvern James
Director at Caterer.com
Key Takeaway:
The best venues don’t just deliver exceptional guest experiences—they invest just as much in their team’s journey. The businesses that will thrive are those that lead with culture, clarity, and care, inside and out.
Josh Bright
Bright Ideas Strategic Consulting
Key Point:
If you want to attract top talent, treat your employee experience like your customer experience. Build moments of surprise and delight, offer flexibility, and help your team connect to a higher purpose.
Key Takeaway:
Review your employment contracts and processes now to prepare for the upcoming changes in the Employment Bill.
Lydia Christie
Head of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure at Howard Kennedy
Key Point:
Day-one unfair dismissal rights will soon become law, prompting businesses to rethink recruitment. Hiring the right people from the start helps reduce staff dissatisfaction, early exits, recruitment costs, and legal claims.
Key Takeaway:
Now is the time to audit your recruitment processes and contracts so you’re ready to adapt to the Employment Rights Bill.
🙌 Acknowledging Our Partners
A special thanks to Caravan Restaurants, for hosting us, and to our sponsors – HIT Training, Caterer.com, Howard Kennedy, and Majestic Wine – for their incredible support. 🙌
🧠 Final Thoughts
From leadership development and legal frameworks to culture and career support, it’s clear the hospitality industry must reframe how it nurtures its most valuable asset: its people.
The evening proved one thing above all-when creativity, collaboration and clarity come together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future that attracts passionate individuals and gives them every reason to stay.
