Marvin OnumonuThe Institute of Hospitality has joined forces with the Better Hiring Institute (BHI) to launch a free ‘Better Hiring Toolkit’ to help the hospitality sector hire quickly, fairly, and safely.
The toolkit was developed with the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), Institute of Hospitality, Disclosure Scotland, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS), and Reed Screening.
Keith Rosser, chair of the BHI, said: “I am delighted to have worked collaboratively with key bodies to provide the hospitality industry with this best practice guide to help hard working organisations who are facing multiple challenges on a daily basis.
“The hospitality industry is vital to the UK economy and I hope that the Toolkit will assist organisations to hire to the best possible standard.
“My thanks go to the Institute of Hospitality and our Hospitality subcommittee for their valuable insights and feedback to create this industry standard.”
Robert Richardson, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality, said: “As proud members of the steering body for the UK Government’s Modernising Employment All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the Institute of Hospitality is delivering on its commitment to building a more equitable and progressive employment landscape for hospitality professionals.
“Our collaboration with colleagues and Reed Screening to develop the Better Hiring Toolkit for Hospitality is a meaningful step towards consistent, high-quality hiring practices that recognise the value of people across our sector.”
Richardson added: “Hospitality is more than just a job – it’s a profession with real prospects, and this toolkit helps lay the groundwork for a more inclusive, respected, and sustainable future.
“As the strong voice for hospitality professional development, not just in the UK but globally, we will continue to champion the professional development changes needed to ensure everyone in our industry has the opportunity to thrive.”
Helen Chandler, acting associate director of strategy and business development for the DBS, said: “The Disclosure and Barring Service helps employers make safer recruitment decisions, and our collaboration with Better Hiring Institute represents important steps forward in supporting the hospitality industry in safeguarding best practice.
“The toolkit provides guidance for employers and highlights how incorporating Basic checks into recruitment practices can be a tool to build trust, safety and reliability across the workforce.”
Corinne Peart, head of engagement at Reed Screening, added: “In the hospitality industry, where customer trust and service quality are paramount, thorough employee screening is essential.
“Here at Reed Screening, we look forward to seeing the positive impact this guidance has on the sector.”
Elysia McCaffrey, CEO at the GLAA, said: “Our mission is to stop the exploitation of workers in the UK and to ensure employers treat them fairly.
“The Hospitality Better Hiring Toolkit, produced by The Better Hiring Institute, is an intuitive product designed to prevent worker abuse in the sector.
“This guidance to benchmark industry onboarding and recruitment processes which ensure fairer and safer recruitment will reassure workers that they will be treated equally and fairly.”
McCaffrey added: “It is a fantastic demonstration of how partnerships can contribute to the identification of risk, including the additional vulnerability that women and girls are often exposed to because of labour exploitation, and prevent worker abuse.”
Gerard Hart, chief executive at Disclosure Scotland, concluded: “We fully support the Better Hiring Institute’s ambition to encourage more employers to recruit more fairly, enabling more people, including those from underrepresented groups or who have past involvement with the justice system, to gain successful employment in hospitality.
“Across Scotland, we are committed to helping employers make safe and fair recruitment decisions.
“This toolkit is an excellent resource for organisations when considering their recruitment options and hiring capable staff who are keen to learn new skills or build on their existing experience.”
