The Choose Hospitality Pledge, the industry-wide initiative driven by Nestlé Professional, Choose Hospitality and Springboard, has wrapped up its 2025 events. The initiative reached close to 1,000 young people across York and Brighton, with an inspiring message about careers in hospitality.
Over two weeks this October, ambassadors from across the sector delivered workshops, talks and activities designed to bring the world of hospitality to life for secondary school students. In total, campaigners visited 12 schools and met with 975 students, sparking conversations about creativity, teamwork and the breadth of opportunities available in one of the UK’s most dynamic industries.
The City of York Takeover saw 8 schools and more than 900 Year 8 students take part in hands-on workshops hosted by industry ambassadors from organisations including Whitbread, BaxterStorey and the winners of the 2025 Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or, Tom Brassington and Katie Blundell. Sessions encouraged students to think differently about hospitality, with engaging demonstrations and interactive challenges showing how skills such as communication, problem-solving and adaptability translate into rewarding careers.
In Brighton, Sodexo Live hosted a panel session to introduce students to the Choose Hospitality Pledge. The panel was moderated by Antonia Macfarlane, Business Development Manager at Pol Roger Portfolio, and included James Candy, Customer Manager at Nestlé Professional; Serin Hassan, Toque d’Or finalist and Green Spatula winner; Bryan Grierson, Operations Director at Springboard; Melvyn Funnell-Strange, General Manager at Sodexo Live, and Steven Edwards, Chef Restaurateur at etch. The discussion was followed by interactive activities like mocktail making and a behind the scenes tour of the Brighton and Hove Albion Amex Stadium, designed to help students see hospitality in action, and give students hands-on experience of key skills such as teamwork, communication and resilience.
Commenting on the success of the Choose Hospitality Pledge, Julia Jones, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Nestlé Professional, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the reach and impact of this year’s activities. Nearly 1,000 young people have had the opportunity to experience hospitality in a new light, not just as a job, but as a vibrant, creative career path that can take you anywhere. The enthusiasm and curiosity we’ve seen from students show just how powerful these experiences can be.”
Building on this success, Choose Hospitality Pledge and its partners are already planning further outreach activity in 2026, continuing their mission to inspire the next generation of hospitality talent and challenge outdated perceptions of the industry.
How to become a Choose Hospitality Pledge ambassador:
Simply register your details via bit.ly/43pjR2h
There you will find future opportunities to support local schools in hospitality-related activities.
