About Bridge To Hospitality
The UK hospitality industry is facing unprecedented pressures in ensuring there are enough people entering and remaining in the industry to ensure it continues to be a leading growth industry in the UK economy. With the threat of a reduction in the number of overseas hospitality workers as a result of Brexit, there is the need to champion the careers that are available in the hospitality industry. Traditional routes of raising awareness of the industry careers are in demise within schools so alternative routes to raise awareness and ways of sourcing talent need to be found.
Community groups and social enterprises provide opportunities for disadvantaged groups to develop skills and knowledge in hospitality, catering, service and food preparation.
After seeing a few social enterprises in the industry close due to either lack of funding or clientele and experience I had in funding, I've been trying to raise awareness of initiatives that may be able to help social enterprises in the industry survive and grow and continue to help those that they have set up to help provide a talent pipeline to the industry.
Why Bridge?
What do you think about when you think of the concept of a bridge? From my own point of view a bridge signifies
- connection
- strength
- support
- bringing people or concepts together, providing the links to collaborate and work together and supporting them in achieving their goals.
So through this website and other initiatives, it is my aim to bring together or help facilitate connections between food, hospitality and catering social entrepreneurs and their customers, social enterprises with restaurants, hotels and cafes, supporters and advocates, connect disadvantaged groups with opportunities, strengthen their knowledge and capacity to survive and grow and support them through the process.
Why Hospitality Specifically?
I trained as a chef from leaving school at 16 and have been interested in food and catering ever since, although most of my career has been outside the industry.
In addition, while trying to help close friends consider starting a social enterprise community cafe with space to deliver classes and workshops, I discovered that it is not that easy to get all the information in one place. This is something I hope to achieve through this website.
Community groups and social enterprises provide opportunities for disadvantaged groups to develop skills and knowledge in hospitality, catering, service and food preparation.
After seeing a few social enterprises in the industry close due to either lack of funding or clientele and experience I had in funding, I've been trying to raise awareness of initiatives that may be able to help social enterprises in the industry survive and grow and continue to help those that they have set up to help provide a talent pipeline to the industry.
Why Bridge?
What do you think about when you think of the concept of a bridge? From my own point of view a bridge signifies
- connection
- strength
- support
- bringing people or concepts together, providing the links to collaborate and work together and supporting them in achieving their goals.
So through this website and other initiatives, it is my aim to bring together or help facilitate connections between food, hospitality and catering social entrepreneurs and their customers, social enterprises with restaurants, hotels and cafes, supporters and advocates, connect disadvantaged groups with opportunities, strengthen their knowledge and capacity to survive and grow and support them through the process.
Why Hospitality Specifically?
I trained as a chef from leaving school at 16 and have been interested in food and catering ever since, although most of my career has been outside the industry.
In addition, while trying to help close friends consider starting a social enterprise community cafe with space to deliver classes and workshops, I discovered that it is not that easy to get all the information in one place. This is something I hope to achieve through this website.
About Me
I started my career as a chef studying for the Professional Chefs Diploma course at Westminster College, finally graduating with City and Guilds 706 1 and 2 qualifications and the Westminster College Diploma. Following a short time in industry, I left to pursue an alternative career gaining CIPD qualifications and worked in HR departments and specialising in graduate recruitment, training and diversity. I have also selected and managed EU funded projects and supported voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in the identification and management of funding opportunities.
I am currently working for an enterprise agency assisting individuals, small businesses and social enterprises, however, I have retained a passion for my initial career choice, which gave me a huge range of knowledge and skills and I have often catered for office parties, retirements, colleagues’ birthdays as well as family including creating celebration cakes. As well as cooking in my spare time I raise awareness and assist organisations especially social enterprises within the food, hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries. Further details are available here www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-ranson-1a386426/
Contact me on [email protected]
I started my career as a chef studying for the Professional Chefs Diploma course at Westminster College, finally graduating with City and Guilds 706 1 and 2 qualifications and the Westminster College Diploma. Following a short time in industry, I left to pursue an alternative career gaining CIPD qualifications and worked in HR departments and specialising in graduate recruitment, training and diversity. I have also selected and managed EU funded projects and supported voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in the identification and management of funding opportunities.
I am currently working for an enterprise agency assisting individuals, small businesses and social enterprises, however, I have retained a passion for my initial career choice, which gave me a huge range of knowledge and skills and I have often catered for office parties, retirements, colleagues’ birthdays as well as family including creating celebration cakes. As well as cooking in my spare time I raise awareness and assist organisations especially social enterprises within the food, hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries. Further details are available here www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-ranson-1a386426/
Contact me on [email protected]