UK: The Institute for Hospitality (IoH) has secured funding from Savoy Educational Trust (SET) to employ an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) specialist for the global hospitality sector.
The role will help the hospitality industry attract talent from a diverse talent pool, including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds, gender reassignment, age, disability, religious beliefs and other important groups. Responsibilities also include supporting an online IoH EDI business helpline.
Robert Richardson, CEO of the IoH, said: “This is a ground-breaking initiative, and we are grateful that SET has recognised the importance of this role for our industry and provided us with the funding to put our people-centric EDI strategy into place.
“As an educational charity, the IoH is in an enviable and unique position to lead the global hospitality sector in EDI. Creating educational resources, continuing professional development (CPD), articles, white papers, case studies and supporting businesses and individuals with EDI strategies and best practices. Diversity change is already here, and more is coming.”
Richardson added: “Our aim is to make a significant difference across the hospitality industry with our EDI strategy. Thanks to the SET, we can now start enabling change.”
Julia Sibley, CEO of The Savoy Educational Trust, said: “We commend the Institute of Hospitality in its search for an EDI lead, a role which will support hospitality employers to develop strong equality, diversity and inclusion policies and improve workplaces, so they ultimately attract more people into this wonderful industry.
“The Savoy Educational Trust’s main aim is to advance and develop education, training, and qualifications within the hospitality industry, so it is a logical step for us to back an initiative which encourages employers to make themselves more attractive to people from all outlooks and backgrounds and widen the talent pool, as well as provide a more welcoming environment for career progression to all.”
Launching on Monday 3 October, the EDI role will go live on the IoH website.
The Savoy Educational Trust is also embarking on a recruitment drive for a new CEO following Sibley’s intention to step down from the role at the end of the year. Interested parties are encouraged to get in touch with Liz Hartstone here.
