Hospitality is one of the UK's largest and fastest growing industries with an annual turnover of over £50 billion in 2002. It includes hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, bars and contract caterers.
These businesses range from small family run restaurants to large hotels owned by major companies. They reach out from every city and town to rural areas. Restaurants account for the largest proportion of the industry, making up 44% of all hospitality establishments.
19% of employees in the hospitality industry are aged below 20 compared to a national average of 5%. Women make up 62% of employees in hospitality dominating occupations such as waiting and bar staff, while hotel porters and publicans are largely male. More than four fifths of all employees have some qualification but only about a quarter have a relevant industry qualification.
(Sources: Key facts and figures were supplied by the hospitality training foundation - Labour Market Review for the Hospitality Industry 2003 and the Annual Business Inquiry)
