Industry News is Sponsored by HEWI
Springboard, the charity dedicated to changing lives and unlocking potential through careers in hospitality, has released its 2025-2026 Impact Report, revealing that more than 5,100 young and unemployed people were supported into jobs or education over the past year.
During 2025–26, Springboard supported 5,109 people into employment or education and delivered more than 245,000 hospitality skills and training opportunities, helping individuals build confidence, gain experience, and prepare for sustainable careers.
This included 3,002 people supported through employability programmes designed to help unemployed and disadvantaged people develop skills, build confidence and move into sustainable work.
The charity continues to support people facing significant barriers to employment, with 65% of those helped coming from areas of high multiple deprivation and more than half aged 18–24.
The report highlights the charity’s growing impact across employability, school programmes and industry engagement, including:
- 5,109 people supported into jobs or education
- 77% of people who completed a Springboard employability programme secured work in the hospitality sector
- 86% of trainees remained in work after 12 months
- 90% progressed into positive destinations including employment, education or training
- 29,308 pupils engaged through school and careers programmes
- 130,057 people used CareerScope to explore hospitality careers
For 35 years, Springboard has helped people overcome barriers to employment and build long-term careers in hospitality.
Among those supported is Laura Cunningham, a finalist in the Fiona Colley Trainee of the Year Award at the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2026. Before joining Springboard, Laura was on long-term sick leave and struggling with mental health challenges. After completing The Diageo Learning for Life programme, she secured a role at Holiday Inn, where she now works on reception with opportunities to support the bar team.
“It felt like a little family. We all rooted for each other, and I genuinely looked forward to learning,” said Laura.
Springboard’s CEO Chris Gamm said: “Behind every statistic is a person rebuilding confidence, overcoming barriers and finding a future they may never have believed possible.
“Hospitality can change lives, and this year’s impact shows what happens when industry comes together to invest in people and potential. More than half of the people we support are aged 18–24, a generation that continues to face significant barriers to employment. Through our programmes, we are helping young people gain the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to build sustainable and rewarding careers.”
Springboard’s impact was recently recognised at the 2026 Springboard Awards for Excellence, including the Fiona Colley Trainee of the Year Award, which celebrates individuals who have shown exceptional resilience and determination through completing a Springboard employability programme.
With demand for support continuing to grow and economic pressures affecting communities across the UK, Springboard says its work is more important than ever. The charity is continuing to work towards its ambition of delivering one million hospitality skills by 2030 in partnership with employers, educators and government.
Through employability training, school partnerships, Springboard FutureChef and CareerScope, Springboard aims to support more than 5,000 people into work each year, while delivering 200,000 hospitality skills and career experiences that support their journey into employment and strengthen long-term career prospects across the UK hospitality sector.
The full Springboard 2025-26 impact report can be accessed here.