Hospitality & Tourism Skills (HATS) network
Addressing talent attraction and retention in tourism through collaboration
The HATS employer-led network, which formed in 2019, brings together a diverse mix of employers from across the hospitality and tourism sector in Northern Ireland alongside industry associations and key delivery partners from government and education to collectively address issues around sector image, attractiveness and skills development into and within the sector.
It aims to deliver a three-year action plan, informed by a robust evidence base, with its activities focused across three work-streams:
- Engage - harnessing collaborative working across key partners and leveraging existing resources for skills and career development to maximum effect
- Retain - promoting good working practices and building industry awareness of available skills support to retain talent.
- Attract - maximising promotion of the sector to encourage and support recruitment of new talent into future employment.
Find out more and become a member of the HATS network
Play a leading role in influencing industry-led approaches to attraction, retention and engagement strategies. Join HATS now to support industry growth and access a range of insights, best practice and guidance on available skills support to help you attract and develop talent.
Visit the HATS Network website
The HATS network project is supported by Invest Northern Ireland under its Collaborative Growth Programme.
Founding members: Bishops Gate Hotel, Airporter, Coppi Restaurants, Fitzwilliam Hotel, Westville Hotel Group, James St & Co, Hastings Hotels Group, Titanic Belfast, McKeever Hotels Group, Dalata Hotels, Andras House Hotels, Beannchor, Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, AC Marriott and Northern Ireland Hotels Federation.
Partners: Department for the Economy, Department for Communities, Invest NI, Tourism NI, Institute of Hospitality, FE Tourism Hub, Ulster University, Springboard, NI Tourism Alliance.