insideKENT Magazine Issue 48 - March 2016 | Page 141

BUSINESSNEWS LUNCH THAT PACKS A PUNCH: WATCH WHAT YOU EAT AT WORK What you choose to eat at your desk could make or break your relationship with colleagues, according to new research released in February. An online office brokerage has revealed that nearly 80% of workers think eating smelly lunches at a desk is unprofessional and that 40% think a burger and fries is the worst offending smelly food. The survey, conducted by www.officebroker.com, delved into the minds and lunchboxes of 1,250 UK office workers to discover what bothers them the most about smelly lunches – and which foods are causing the most discomfort in the workplace. Nearly 80% of office-based workers said they strongly believed eating a smelly lunch at your desk is unprofessional, and 68% say it’s just downright annoying and it’s your female coworkers who are more likely to be judging your lunch choices than the males. When it comes to the crunch however, only just over half the people surveyed say they would back a stinky food ban. It seems burgers with fries cause the most bother, with 40% of people saying it’s not a happy meal when they get a whiff of greasy fast food in their workspace. Curry comes in a close second and soup spills into third place with 22 and 12 percent of votes respectively. Fast food chicken and fries, Chinese food and strong smelling meat sandwiches are also among the top foods causing office angst. While 42% of Brits say they are solely irritated by the smell of the food, another third admit it actually makes them feel hungry. 18% say they are put off their own lunch when they smell their co-workers lunches and a surprising 8% say a colleague’s lunch can make them feel sick. CEO of OfficeBroker.com, Chris Meredith said: “The results clearly show that the majority of Brits don’t like people munching on stinky meals in the workplace.” The solution, he says, is to think before you eat. “Unless you want to be labelled a lunchbox culprit, certain foods may require open-air consumption or possibly a canteen setting.” KENT BIG HOSPITALITY CONVERSATION CREATES 430 JOB OPPORTUNITIES More than 430 job opportunities, apprenticeships and work placements for 16 to 24 year olds were pledged by over 100 Kent businesses at the recent Big Hospitality Conversation. The event, organised by the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and sponsored by Visit Kent, took place at Ashford International Q Hotel in January and welcomed more than 350 young Kent jobseekers to its conference and careers marketplace. The nationwide campaign aims to tackle youth unemployment and to encourage the creation of career paths, jobs, apprenticeships, and structured work placements for under 25s in the tourism and hospitality industry. Industry experts shared advice with delegates on how to the get the best out of job placements, and Visit Kent co-hosted a panel discussion on the benefits of offering work experience placements. Chairman of Visit Kent and CEO of Shepherd Neame Jonathan Neame described the UK’s hospitality and tourism industry as ‘world class’, giving his top reasons as to why young people should choose it as a career. He said: “It was a delight to be part of the Big Hospitality Conversation, and to see so many keen and determined young people receive strong job opportunities by the end of the day. I was also pleased to see so many business offering work experience and apprenticeships to young people. “Our industry offers excellent prospects for young people and we can guarantee that - in return for hard work, energy and a willingness 141 to learn – a great career and a bright future awaits you.” The event was sponsored by Visit Kent, Q Hotels and Southeastern Railway, which donated 250 rail passes to jobseekers for the event. It is also supported by national campaign partners Springboard, Department for Works and Pensions, National Apprenticeship Service and Jobcentre Plus. Accounting for 10% of the national workforce, the tourism and hospitality sector offers significant career opportunities to people of all ages, skill levels and qualifications. It is the UK’s 4th largest employment sector, and one of its fastest growing, hence the need for recruitment and retention in the industry is vital to the UK economy. In Kent alone, the industry supports 67,000 jobs and contributes £3.4bn to the economy. To join the next Big Hospitality Conversation, or to make a pledge please contact the BHA [email protected] or 020 74047744. For more information about Kent, please visit www.visitkent.co.uk.