Raymond Blanc: "I hope every parent would want their son or daughter in this industry"

Speaking on the Hospitality Rising podcast, the chef-patron at two-Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, has urged parents to teach their children about the benefits of working in hospitality and view it as a viable career option for their offspring.

“It’s a great time to be bringing young people to our industry and to show them how exciting, and how extraordinary the industry can be. You’re talking about working in a very smart, elegant environment which is all about beauty and refinement, and making people happy,” he said.

“And because of the changes and the revolution we’re creating in our industry, I hope that every parent would think one day, yes, I would want to put my son or my daughter in this industry.

“It’s up to us to change the industry, which is about people, training, supporting the young, and caring for them.”

Blanc was speaking in support of the Hospitality Rising campaign, Rise Fast, Work Young, ​which has been launched in a bid to help fill the industry’s 400,000 vacancies. It comes as figures from KAM, which is supporting the Hospitality Rising effort, show that only one in five people would consider a hospitality job and that 42% of current employees are considering leaving the sector.

“Food, it sounds easy, but it’s a skilled craft. This business today can offer any young person, or older person, avenues where you can be everything you wish,” he added.

“Through this craft you can travel anywhere across the world, create your own business and pass it on to other young people.

“It’s up to us to change the industry. People say oh the young, they don’t want to work.’ I believe this is wrong – give them a good manager, a patient manager – and believe me, that young person will grow into someone who is going to be a great success.”