An exciting new toolkit aimed at supporting workers and businesses within Scotland’s hospitality sector has been launched today.
The Tourism and Hospitality toolkit is aimed at supporting the growth and success of Scotland’s hospitality sector by providing a one-stop shop with the tools and resources businesses and employees need to thrive.
The toolkit was created based on findings from Serving the Future, a three-year project by the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute and The Poverty Alliance, which focused on addressing and preventing in-work poverty in the hospitality sector. It has also been shaped by industry experts and key players such as Skills Development Scotland, Scotland’s Tourism & Hospitality Industry Leadership Group, and industry charity Springboard.
The toolkit will provide support to the sector on key areas such as training and development, achieving net zero, recruitment and retention, and fair work. Employees will be able to access information on their rights at work, education and training, visa sponsorship and immigration, and more links to support when working in hospitality.
Kelly Johnstone, Chief Operations Officer of Springboard said: “Our mission with this toolkit is to support the growth and success of Scotland’s hospitality sector so both employers and employees can thrive. The toolkit brings together expert advice and practical solutions into one accessible platform to help the hospitality industry excel. Case studies included in the toolkit from Serving the Future highlight good practice which is already happening in Scotland – we hope many more businesses and employees can benefit from accessing this information.”
Dr Laura Robertson, research manager at The Poverty Alliance, which is a partner in Serving the Future said: "We know that low-pay and job insecurity have a big impact on households in Scotland. We hope this toolkit will empower businesses and workers to strengthen fair work and living wages in the hospitality sector. Scotland has signed up to legal child poverty targets and we know that making positive change in the world of work can contribute to reaching them. We are excited to see how the toolkit does that."
Chirsty McFadyen, economist at the Fraser of Allander Institute and lead investigator on Serving the Future said: “We feel very privileged as a research team to have been let into the hospitality industry with such a warm welcome. Few research projects have worked with both employers and employees to create sustainable solutions in the way that Serving the Future has. We are keen to continue building the relationships we’ve gained from this work, and we’re looking forward to seeing the industry’s reaction to the toolkit.”
The toolkit includes a feedback form so that that businesses and employees can reflect on the usefulness of the information available. The team behind the website will be evaluating responses and adapting the content throughout 2025.
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