The hospitality industry is making a very strong case for Amy Jones to pursue it as a permanent career plan ahead of her original aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

In a sector which has struggled to recruit the staff it needs in recent times, post-Brexit and post-pandemic, Amy is hoping her story might inspire others to consider careers in hospitality.

The 19-year-old had planned to go to Nottingham University in September 2021 to study law, building upon her A0 Level. But at short notice, she was told her accommodation had not been built and had no option but to defer for a year and get a ‘temporary’ full-time job to tide her over.

But that job has now inspired her to consider changing careers completely and staying with the hospitality sector.

Amy started work in February as an ‘Emerging Leader’ at a hotel just outside Bristol.

She said: “My role includes training in each department of the hotel, which could lead to a permanent managerial position in whichever department best suits me.

“I always liked the idea of hospitality as I grew up. My mum is currently head of a hotel housekeeping department. She used to take me to work with her most weekends, which exposed me to what it was like having a career in this sector.

“When I started t his job, I didn’t see it as something permanent, I saw it as something temporary while I took a gap year. But now, I think it definitely has potential to be a long-term career for me.

“I think there are hundreds of opportunities within the hospitality industry that are very easily accessible.

“The team I work with is like a family, which is one of the things I enjoy the most. We always look after one another and there is never a dull day at work.

“We always have fun together, we celebrate our achievements together, and the environment I am working in just could not be better.

“Yes, the hours can be long, and the work can be hard, depending on which department you work in. But with hard work comes great recognition and reward.

“Many hotels celebrate staff achievements monthly, with lots of praise. Unsociable hours turn into the most sociable hours as your push with your team to get the job done.

“Yes, we work, but we also enjoy each other’s company, and we have so much fun on the evening shifts, you don’t realise the time flying by.

“I know some people think the pay rate is low. But people don’t realise that we also get, on top of our wages, service charge. This can be anything from a few pounds to a couple of hundred pounds.

“I would be lying if I said a part of me still wants to get that law degree. But right now, hospitality is definitely a contender for my long-term future career.

“If anyone was even thinking about trying a career in the hospitality industry, my advice would be to go for it.

“The hospitality sector has the best people to work alongside, there is plentiful support and help available, there are many benefits, and you even gain a new family. Everyone is treated fairly and with respect, and we all support one another.

“I feel well supported and valued, and I feel that hospitality has a strong connection to our own welfare.

“I think you can easily grow and strengthen your qualities within the sector as the experience you receive will give you the opportunity to grow as a person.

“Working in the hospitality sector has definitely had a positive impact on my personal life, too. I feel that I am a lot more confident than I used to be. I am no longer shy or quiet. I feel that I can now easily step out of my comfort zone in any situation given.

“I feel that now more than ever I find it easier to make new friends. I just feel that I have grown more as a person since working in the industry.

“I wholeheartedly believe there are enough career paths ahead of me that could now become my long-term career within the industry. I believe that you can grow so much with a career in hospitality. There are so many options, so many doors waiting to be discovered.”

Raphael Herzog, chair of Bristol Hoteliers Association, said: “I am delighted to hear that Amy is now considering a permanent career in hospitality, having started with thoughts of it only being temporary.

“Young people seem to overlook hospitality as a career option but, as Amy has learned, there really are so many opportunities and, as she says, doors waiting to be discovered.

“People looking for a worthwhile occupation really should contact their local hotel and see what opportunities are on offer.”