For a young person struggling to find work, a hotel’s revolving door can feel surprisingly difficult to get through. For the hotel struggling to recruit, the talent on its doorstep can be equally hard to reach. With nearly one million young people in the UK outside education, employment or training, hospitality has a compelling reason to rethink how those first introductions happen.
Marriott International, Springpod, Accenture and Movement to Work have developed a programme designed to bring the two sides together. It starts with free virtual work experience, giving young people an accessible introduction to hotel careers, and connects that learning with practical support, in-person placements and opportunities for employment.
In its first year, the programme reached 10,517 young people, including 408 who identified themselves as not in education, employment or training. Of those enrolled, 6,012 completed at least one course. The programme team reports 26 in-person placements and six job offers or hires, demonstrating the first steps from online learning into employment.
For participant Deborah Ojo, the difference was felt before she even entered the interview room.
“The work experience programme actually boosted my confidence going into the interview, especially when I was able to hear from people currently working at Marriott and hear their story. It gave me the courage to be able to go into the interview, speak my mind and be able to do well,” she said.
After struggling to find a way into work following college, Deborah joined the food and beverage team at Aloft London Excel, supported by Aviard and Marriott’s virtual work experience programme. Her experience illustrates why information alone is rarely enough: hearing from people already doing the job can make an unfamiliar workplace feel like somewhere you might belong.
That sense of possibility matters in an industry whose career opportunities are often poorly understood. A young person may recognise the receptionist or restaurant team without seeing the breadth of disciplines behind a hotel’s operation, or how a first role could develop into a longer career.
“What people don’t realise is the plethora of career pathways which are available for young people to actually shape a career in every single discipline that is inside a hotel organisation,” said Alex Dimsdale, Multi-Property Director of Human Resources at Marriott International.
The programme gives participants space to explore those possibilities before applying. Free online experiences can be completed at their own pace, combining insights from Marriott employees with interactive activities and an introduction to the skills employers value. Participants receive a certificate they can add to their CV as they prepare for their next step.
Crucially, the support extends beyond the screen. Organisations including Aviard Inspires, Shaw Trust and Street League provide coaching and practical help for young people who need more assistance making the transition into work. Opening access to learning is one part of the job; helping someone act on it is another.
Sam Hyams, Founder and CEO of Springpod, said: “A young person’s career prospects should never depend on who their parents know or which school they attend. They need opportunities to explore what’s out there, discover what interests them and build the confidence to take that first step.
“With Marriott, Accenture and Movement to Work, we’re connecting that first experience online with people who can support them into a hotel placement and, ultimately, a job. Hospitality gains access to young people it might otherwise miss, while those young people get the chance to see a future for themselves in the industry. Deborah’s story shows what that can mean in practice.”
Springpod estimates the programme’s first-year social value at £8.82 million, using its model developed with Social Value Portal. The figure reflects the modelled value of learning outcomes across 6,012 completers. Marriott has also committed to providing 30 in-person placements each quarter, creating further opportunities to turn interest into experience.
The partnership is now nominated for World’s Leading Education & Skills Initiative 2026 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, under the entry “Springpod: Opening Doors to Hospitality”. The nomination puts a practical dimension of sustainable tourism in the spotlight: the industry’s ability to create accessible routes into employment in the communities around its hotels.
For Deborah, that route has already led to a place on the team. The opportunity now is to help more young people walk through the same door.
Voting closes 21 October 2026. Vote for Springpod: Opening Doors to Hospitality here. Voters can log in or register for a free World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards account to participate.
Tags: Alex Dimsdale Marriott International Sam Hyams Springpod
