On the 1st of October, the Hospitality Junior Board held their ‘Celebrate Hospitality’ event at York St John University Creative Centre. The evening was intended to celebrate the progress since the initiative began in 2023 and welcomed board members, sponsors, and partners of the board including this year’s cohort.
The one-of-a-kind Hospitality leadership programme was launched in York by North Yorkshire-based entrepreneur and industry leader, Philip Bolson.
The Hospitality Junior Board initiative serves to aid the development of future hospitality innovators and change the perception of the sector. It’s a ground-breaking business with a lot of potential to shape the future of the hospitality sector that has already been making an impact across York and North Yorkshire.
The Celebrate Hospitality event saw Philip reflect on what the aim of the Hospitality Junior Board is, what the inaugural board have learnt, and the announcement of the next steps of the initiative as the second cohort begins their journey.
Discussions involving key figures in the industry tackled issues such as sustainability and celebrated the graduation of the first group of young managers from the programme.
Philip Bolson shared, “Hospitality is a place to make friends and build a long-lasting career. A place that will welcome your character and recognise your hard work.
One of the objectives of the York & North Yorkshire Hospitality Junior Board is to change the perception of the sector. Whilst this responsibility sits mainly with the sector itself, we need those with influence to get behind this mission, and those who work in it.”
Guests in attendance included the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, alongside Brenda Collin of EVP Europe Preferred Travel Group, Fiona Fitzpatrick, Sheriff of York, and Lionel A Chatard, Treasurer of Hospitality Association York.
Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, shared, “It was a fantastic evening. The young people on the board are inspirational, enthusiastic, and full of confidence.”
Since its inception, the programme has seen a cohort of 9 young business leaders graduate, aided by a wide range of local businesses and mentors alongside its sponsors – integrated hospitality agency Punch Creative, PMS Hotel Software company High-Level Software, Contract and Relationship – York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub Joseph Midgley, Acting Vice Dean of York St John Business School Brendan Paddison, Cedar Court, and Splendid Hospitality. A second cohort of 12 started last month.
Joseph Midgley shared of the event, “The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub have contributed funding for this as part of North Yorkshire Council’s SPF programmes, and I was interested to hear about how the Board members are working as ambassadors for the industry.
Well done Philip for pulling it all together”
Yasmine Hammadache, a member of the first cohort, stated, “This experience has been an incredible journey for me. I have learnt so much that will help me not only in my career, but personally also.
To work alongside such talented individuals, and learn from Philip himself, has been amazing. I am looking forward to watching the second cohort grow and learn like I did.”
Over the next three years, the York & North Yorkshire Junior Hospitality Board aims to take 100 young people from the region through the programme, helping to build key skills that aid them to succeed and elevate the industry in the North and permanently alter the perception of Hospitality.
