Sector Skills Council People 1st is spearheading a new drive to showcase the best companies across the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry (HLTT).

The Good Employer Campaign is a new best practice drive for the UK hospitality industry and is based on standards laid out by employers themselves with already 50 companies signed up to participate.

With backing from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the British Hospitality Association (BHA), the campaign aims to highlight the best practice which will enable companies to become ‘good employers’ and to be able to recruit and retain the best staff.

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Tourism and Culture, commented: "The skills of people working in the tourism industry are critical to the visitor experience… Improving the skills of the tourism workforce is at the heart of our plans for the future of the industry.

“I want all the employers in the sector to commit to the training and development of staff. The Good Employer Campaign is a real step forward. Being a Good Employer allows you to show your staff you are prepared to be audited by them.” Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, added: "Hospitality and tourism are crucial to the UK economy and it is critical that, as a sector, we provide better working conditions and development opportunities to tackle the retention crisis that has plagued us for many years.

“I believe that the Good Employer Campaign will be extremely beneficial for the sector, and signing up is something that I would recommend to all members of the British Hospitality Association.”

Employers signing up to the Good Employer Campaign will be able to rate themselves against 11 best practice standards including vision and values, the working environment, management and motivation and building teams. These ratings will then highlight areas employers need to improve upon, and employees in turn will also have the opportunity rate their employer against the same standards. The company’s rating is public and can be viewed by future and prospective staff by visiting www.ukskillspassport.co.uk

Photograph: Margaret Hodge, Minister for Tourism and Culture