During the International Festival for Business 2014, Liverpool Hoteliers Association has motivated thousands of youngsters via an experiential careers event.

The Skills Show experience, which was held at Aintree Racecourse, provided 14-24 year olds with a range of industry focused ‘Have a Go’ activities, demonstrations and tailored advice.

Together with L20 Hotel School, the hospitality duo teamed up in an attempt to motivate and inspire young adults in pursuing a career in the city’s ever growing visitor economy.

Chairman of Liverpool Hoteliers Association James Rush said:

“The two day event was both highly enjoyable and beneficial for everyone that attended. Many youngsters feel somewhat worried about career prospects, as they are often told that jobs are hard to come by. However, there are many job opportunities out there, which teens and young adults need to be aware of.

“The Skills Show was a great way of informing young people about the diverse range of hospitality jobs and apprentices that are available in the North West.”

Throughout the two days, attendees were able to gain a first-hand insight to the hospitality industry. By participating in a multitude of tasks that are relevant to the visitor trade, youngsters were able to get a true feel for the sector.

Mike Mounfield, Director of the L20 Hotel School and himself a former chef, added:

“For too many years some people have viewed working in hospitality as a part time or Saturday job, the L20 Hotel School and the Liverpool Hoteliers Association are working hard to change this perception to make people aware of the varied opportunities that currently exist in the region’s hotels.

“A career in hospitality provides young people not only with transferable skills suitable for a range of job roles, but it can also provide the opportunity to travel, meet lots of exciting people and above all have a great time doing it. With the growth of the Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy, there has never been a better time to join this exciting and vibrant industry.”