Hilton Global Foundation and Hilton UK Foundation are supporting 12 charities and organisations across the UK with nearly £900,000 in combined funding, focusing on skills development, training and employment opportunities for young people.
The funding includes £600,000 awarded by Hilton UK Foundation, an independent UK charity, to 11 organisations working to improve opportunities for future generations.
Separately, Hilton Global Foundation is supporting the Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme operated by food redistribution charity Felix, helping young people gain recognised qualifications and practical experience in professional kitchens.
The programme is designed to support participants facing barriers to employment, providing training and industry experience as they work towards careers in hospitality.
Apprentices recently visited Hilton London Canary Wharf, where they worked alongside the hotel’s culinary team and gained experience of a professional hotel kitchen.
The wider funding programme includes organisations supporting young people with disabilities, individuals facing employment barriers and those seeking opportunities to develop workplace skills.
Among the Hilton UK Foundation’s grant recipients are Team Domenica, Only A Pavement Away, Fair Shot, The Right Course and the Down’s Syndrome Association’s WorkFit programme.
Team Domenica supports young people with learning disabilities as they move towards employment through specialist training, workplace experience and partnerships with employers.
The WorkFit programme similarly helps people who have Down’s syndrome access meaningful paid employment, supporting both candidates and employers throughout recruitment and workplace development.
Other supported organisations focus on providing practical training, mentoring and pathways into employment for people who may otherwise struggle to enter the workforce.
Stephen Cassidy, Senior Vice President, UK & Ireland at Hilton and Chairman of Hilton UK Foundation, said: “Hospitality has the power to open doors for people who might otherwise be overlooked. At a time when too many young people are struggling to gain the experience employers are looking for, the Hilton Global Foundation and Hilton UK Foundation are helping organisations create practical pathways into work through apprenticeships, training, mentoring and hands-on workplace experience. By helping people develop skills, confidence and employability, they are unlocking potential in communities across the UK and creating opportunities that can change lives.”
The funding builds on Hilton’s wider work with charities, schools and training organisations to introduce young people to hospitality careers.
During 2026, Hilton expects to support more than 4,000 young people across the UK through work placements, careers events, mock interviews, workshops and hotel visits.
These activities are delivered in partnership with local schools, colleges and employment organisations, including hospitality careers charity Springboard.
Hilton and Springboard are also planning an event in early 2027 to introduce hundreds of students, parents, teachers and careers advisers to career opportunities within hospitality.
The programmes come amid continued concern about the number of young people across the UK who are not in education, employment or training.
Previous Hilton-commissioned research found that 81% of business leaders believe young people struggle to gain the experience employers expect without access to entry-level positions.
The same research found that 76% of business leaders would be more likely to employ someone with hospitality experience over an otherwise equally qualified applicant.
The importance of practical experience is illustrated by apprentices participating in Felix’s Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme.
Zack Isse, 24, joined the programme after struggling to obtain the experience needed to begin a hospitality career.
Reflecting on his training at Hilton London Canary Wharf, he said: “Before joining the programme, I had a passion for food but didn’t have the experience or confidence to take the next step. Now I’m training as a chef, learning new skills every day and building a future in hospitality. Working in a busy Hilton kitchen gave me a real sense of what the job involves and made me even more determined to succeed. There are lots of people with the passion to do well who just need the chance to learn and show what they can do.”
Another apprentice, 21-year-old Maisie Moore, had never held a paid job before joining the programme.
She said: “Over the past six months, I’ve gained confidence, developed practical skills and discovered how many opportunities hospitality can offer. Working in a busy Hilton kitchen was a real highlight and pushed me outside my comfort zone. It showed me how much there is to learn in hospitality and the different directions a career in the industry could take me.”
Hilton Global Foundation’s support for Felix forms part of its international grant-making programme, which focuses on career opportunities, community resilience and sustainable tourism.
Meanwhile, Hilton UK Foundation continues to fund organisations developing skills, confidence and employment pathways for people across the UK.
Together, the foundations’ support reflects Hilton’s ongoing investment in partnerships intended to help young people gain experience and enter employment, while creating opportunities for individuals who face additional barriers to work.