The word ‘hospitality’ brings to mind a variety of career options. In this service-oriented field, many students and young graduates aspire to climb the career ladder within hotels or to pursue a dream of running their own company, such as a restaurant, or to take on a leading role within their family business.
These dreams all embrace careers in the private sector, the segment of a national economy that is owned, controlled and managed by private individuals or enterprises. While it may not be top of mind for most hospitality students, another entire sector of career possibilities is available to graduates. Often overlooked, the public sector – the parts of the economy composed of all levels of government and government-controlled enterprises – offers a range of opportunities for hospitality professionals to apply their talents and make a difference.
At first thought, the idea of working for a government may be daunting or even go against your own principles and beliefs. However, it is essential to remember that governments come and go, but the needs of the people stay the same. Many hospitality roles in the public sector allow you to provide vital services that benefit local communities or contribute to the development and advancement of society.
What Does a Hospitality Career in the Public Sector Look Like?
Hospitality roles in the public sector span a wide range of possibilities, from catering managers in schools to arranging events for the national department of tourism. Another example: the position I held myself for several years – Hospitality Manager for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust incorporates fives hospitals across the greater London area and is one of the UK's leading providers of hospital and community-based healthcare, research and education. It is fundamentally a public company, funded in the majority by government money, with over 19,000 staff and a turnover exceeding 2 billion GBP.
So, what exactly does a Hospitality Manager in a hospital do? The role combines many of the skills students learn here at AIHM within the BBA in Global Hospitality Management degree. Being a Hospitality Manager in the public sector requires a generalist approach with a big-picture vision. While working as a hospital’s Hospitality Manager, you might be required to manage over 300 events a week, with the size of the events ranging from small to full-scale productions. For each of these events, you will execute a wide range of tasks – from booking training rooms, to arranging the logistics of international conferences, to hosting sit-down dinners, to working with film companies who document high-profile events and promote the important work of the organisation.
Hospitality Managers need to be flexible and adaptable. They work clients from all walks of life. Job responsibilities include business planning, financial reporting, human resources and staff management, as well as marketing and front-of-house operations.
Serving as the Trust’s Hospitality Manager was a unique role, which gave me the opportunity to be involved in some extraordinary special events – for example, the UK’s first-ever cancer survivors’ event and the global launch of Nursing Now, with HRH the Duchess of Cambridge as the key speaker. I loved being able to put my training to use for a good cause, just as I do now as an educator in the hospitality industry.
Why Would You Want to Explore a Hospitality Career in the Public Sector?
For a start, it is a career path that gives a sense of purpose. Public sector jobs exist to provide services that benefit the community as opposed to generating profits. Public service is a noble endeavour. This is reflected by the United Nations officially recognising the 23rd of June as the UN Public Service Day. In 2022, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the significance of public service, noting: “As we mark this important day, let us celebrate not only the work of public servants worldwide, but their commitment to working in partnership to build a better future for all people.”
While sustainable practices in the private sector can also be engines for positive change, and this is something we place high importance on teaching at AIHM, the primary focus of the public sector is making a real impact on people’s lives. Everything the organisation does works toward this goal. In addition to the value you bring to society, public sector careers often bestow other advantages on the individuals who choose this path. Public sector jobs tend to prioritise a fair work-life balance with reasonable working hours. While it is true that the salaries, in general, are lower than in the private sector, once you add in benefits such as pensions and time off, public-sector remuneration can actually be better. For example, the NHS offers 27 days of holidays plus public holidays. Also, working weeks of 37.5 hours and a higher amount of training and development ensure that staff tend to stay longer in these roles. In the public sector, career satisfaction and career progression prospects are high.
Discovering Your Dream Job
One of the most rewarding aspects of your higher education is the chance to discover all the world has to offer you. Every week greets you with new knowledge, new encounters, new possibilities. This time of your life is filled with exploration.
At AIHM, students enjoy a wealth of opportunities to investigate different hospitality specialities and career tracks. We believe a significant part of your education is learning which roles best suit your talents and ambitions so you can embark on your career with well-developed goals and a head start on your professional journey. From your very first semester, which introduces you to the practical arts, through to your internships to your academic studies, you will gain exposure to and experience across the wide spectrum of the hospitality field.
Whether you eventually decide your dream job is in the private or public sector, you will graduate with a strong understanding of the vast range of jobs open to you with your hospitality degree, you will have tested the waters of various roles, and you will have the skills you need to keep evolving as the world changes.
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