Post by Richard Yates

Fantastic collaboration. Hospitality has always been in the DNA of Blackpool and its residents. What starts as a part-time job to earn a few £££ during school, college or Uni holidays often becomes a life-long obsession and it "gets in your bloodstream" I've been lucky and privileged I guess, to have travelled all across the country in various hospitality roles, with some big named companies in the industry whilst learning my craft ......but always like Sam, from Quantum Leap, hoping the next leap was the leap home ..... and I've been back here, in my hometown, ever since 2010. Now I get the privilege of promoting and helping the future generation of hospitality workers and get a real sense of pride even when just one of our customers tells me they've got a job/start date. Its not always about the money - its about that "feel good factor" and I know it may sound cheesy but its "changing lives" that counts !! Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Lancashire County Council Blackpool Council Blackpool Tourism Limited Blackpool and The Fylde College Lancashire Adult Learning Wyre Council Fylde Council Kate Shane MBE Winter Gardens & Blackpool Conference And Exhibition Centre The Viva Group Martin Heywood Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool Tower The Blackpool Tower Dungeon Blackpool Zoo Della Evans-Belk Blackpool Sealife Centre Sands Venue Resort Hotel Holiday Inn RBH Britannia Hotels Ltd The Team at Blackpool Makes It Work Blackpool Transport Services Limited BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH LIMITED Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone DFN Project SEARCH Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort B&M Retail #payitforward #pass the baton #shareexperience #encourage #coach #passion #futuregeneration #ambassadors Hospitality can be a career NOT just a job and there are very many employable and transferable skills and life skills, that our young (and old) residents have, or can learn if given a chance to start on their journey or continue it from where they left off. Let's celebrate what this town has always been famous for and continue to promote it as not just a "seasonal" town with seasonal opportunities but keep pushing and striving for a year round destination, with year round employment. We're almost there - let's finish the job. #ILOVEBlackpool #changingmindset