With the Liverpool city region visitor economy now worth almost £5bn annually, the DWP in the region is taking part a national campaign called HW2020. Tony McDonough reports

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff in Liverpool city region are taking part in a new drive to promote careers in the hospitality sector.

The city region’s visitor economy has grown rapidly over the past decade or so, since Liverpool was European Capital of Culture in 2008, attracting 60m people and generating almost £5bn a year.

This has led to a demand for people to work in the hospitality sector. Now in its 10th year, the DWP’s Hospitality Works is a nationally recognised campaign which seeks to promote jobs and careers in the sector. It is supported by UKHospitality, Springboard and British Beer & Pub Association.

Now DWP staff in Merseyside are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the initiative with a new push to promote the hospitality industry locally and the employment opportunities it can offer.

HW2020 will work with employers to develop their recruitment and retention methods, promote the value of having a diverse workforce and support the practice of working with groups such as people with disabilities and health conditions, ex-offenders, care leavers, single parents, over 50s and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

DWP Merseyside told LBN: “DWP staff across Merseyside, will be using the campaign, to raise the profile of the hospitality sector and speak to both employers and customers, to promote the opportunities available and promote the benefits of having a diverse workforce.

“We think it’s important to promote the hospitality, tourism and leisure sector as it is the third largest industry in the UK, employing more than 3.2m people and is increasing in value year on year.”