FOCUS FEATURE
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
Hospitality may not be the first thing that springs to mind when it comes to what our region is famed for, but it’s big business here in the East Midlands. As a key pillar of our economy, the hospitality industry not only supports a vast amount of jobs and employment opportunities, it also makes a significant economic contribution. Business Network takes a closer look at the sector and examines its scope for improvements in productivity and performance.
Hospitality and tourism go hand in hand. The former, though, is often viewed as the less glamourous bedfellow of
the latter. While it’s the tourism assets of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire which act as the magnet that draws people to this part of the region, it’s the complex ecosystem of hotels, foodservice establishments and leisure venues that facilitates their enjoyment and enhances the overall experience on offer. It’s a symbiotic relationship in which either side feeds off the success of
the other… or wilts and withers when times are tough. But, just how important is the hospitality sector to the regional
economy, and what needs to be done to keep it healthy? In a broader context, the hospitality and tourism sector is a key pillar of
the UK’s economy, delivering an annual Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution of around £66bn and employing more than three million workers. Between 2010 and 2014, the hospitality industry accounted for 17% of total UK net employment growth, meaning it made a substantial contribution to the UK’s private sector jobs recovery following the 2008- 2010 recession. The East Midlands accounts
for approximately six per cent of the sector as a whole, supporting more than 220,000 jobs.
Although many roles
(approximately 35%) within the regional sector are low-skilled and often casual or temporary in nature, it’s worth remembering that the sector provides a huge amount of employment opportunities to workers with low skill levels and an entry level job in hospitality is often the first step toward a career in the service industry for many young people. So, while the sector might not be as productive as some of the others
the region is more famed for – advanced manufacturing, life sciences and green technology – it does play an important role in ensuring the East Midlands continues to punch far above its weight in terms of employment figures. Employment, of course, is just one element of the role the sector plays
within the regional – and the national – economy. The East Midlands’ overall tourism and hospitality offering – the visitor
economy – is about more than just hotels and restaurants. It covers managing and promoting the full range of visitor facilities, including sports, leisure, retail, cultural, natural and heritage attractions.
A REGION OF RICHES We are extremely fortunate, in this part of the region, to be blessed with a number of these across our three counties. Nottinghamshire is famed for its caves, its castle and the legend of
Robin Hood. Leicestershire is home to the National Forest and King Richard III. Derbyshire, meanwhile, has its proud industrial heritage, its stately homes and, of course, the stunning Peak District, a real jewel in the region’s crown. There’s iconic sporting venues, from Trent Bridge to the King Power
Stadium, some of the biggest music acts in the world are regularly drawn to perform here at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, festivals like Y Not and the spiritual home of rock, the Download Festival at Donington Park. All these assets bring people to the region, often from all corners of
the globe. 70 business network February 2020
‘Between 2010 and 2014, the hospitality industry accounted for 17% of total UK net employment growth, meaning it made a substantial contribution to the UK’s private sector jobs recovery following the 2008-2010 recession’
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