British Hospitality Association (BHA) and Restaurant Association are targeting the hospitality and tourism industry to invest in young people in the next phase of the industry’s jobs push.

The latest ‘Big Hospitality Conversation’ initiative, will specifically target youth employment in the restaurant and cater sectors.

Led by the BHA in partnership with Springboard, the Business in the Community (BITC) and Barclays, the event will be hosted by BaxterStorey in Tavistock Square, London.

The initiative will invite hospitality and restaurant businesses from across the southeast to make pledges to create new jobs in the UK for 16-24 year olds.

It’s aim is to tackle youth unemployment as well as embrace a common approach to work placements, internships and apprenticeships.

The Big Hospitality Conversation follows the recently signed agreement between the BHA, the Minister of State for Employment and the Department of Work & Pensions to – ‘better serve the needs of the hospitality sector while giving those people who wish to pursue a career in hospitality a recognised route into work’.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “London’s restaurant and hospitality scene is vibrant and diverse, offering an eclectic range of career options for our young people. The Big Hospitality Conversation is an excellent initiative which is set to support growth and job creation in this world-leading sector.

This is in line with my ambitions to promote apprenticeships in the capital, with the aim to provide 250,000 places by 2016.”

Big Hospitality events targeting the hospitality and restaurant industry will be held across the UK throughout the remainder of 2013 and 2014.