Community-owned pubs, cafés and restaurants do more than serve food and drink. At a time when young people face growing barriers to work – particularly in rural areas – they are helping build skills, confidence and connections close to home.
Hands up if your first job was in hospitality.
For many of us, such work and volunteer experiences were formative. Learning how to speak to customers and working as part of a team of people of different ages have helped shape our working lives.
For some, it was also the first place they felt a sense of belonging outside school or home.
Local hospitality opportunities remain crucial for our young people today.
According to the Office for National Statistics Census data, 16–24 year olds make up 10% of the total workforce, yet they account for around half of all workers in key hospitality roles – including waiters and waitresses (50%), bar staff (48%), and coffee shop workers (48%).
A challenging landscape
At the same time, the picture is becoming more problematic. Youth unemployment is higher than it has been for over a decade, and younger teenagers are increasingly competing with older jobseekers for the same roles.
Changes to the National Minimum Wage have also had an impact. While fair pay is essential, recent increases have made it more difficult for some businesses to take on younger staff.
The minimum hourly rate for under 18s has risen by 73% over the past five years, reaching £8 per hour in April 2026, and the rate for 18 to 20 year olds has increased to £10.85. As highlighted in a recent BBC article, this can discourage some employers from offering first jobs to teenagers.
With Plunkett’s support, rural community-owned hospitality businesses create valuable pathways for young people: from volunteering and training to paid employment. This is especially important in rural areas where transport options are limited and opportunities can be hard to access.
Our research shows that more than half of community businesses employ young people aged 16–25, demonstrating just how vital these organisations are in helping the next generation gain skills, confidence and experience.
Life-shaping experiences
Behind these figures are young people whose confidence and futures are being shaped through community-owned businesses.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that being a part of the Auctioneer’s Arms community pub in Caverswall, Staffordshire has transformed Tilly’s life.
She began in the pub’s kitchen aged 14 – but even that was a huge stride forward for her. She says, “I had really bad anxiety. I wouldn’t leave my room or go anywhere, so my mum got me a job in the pub. I sort of hide in the pot wash – but as I got to know the customers and the staff it helped me to come out of my shell and sort out the anxiety.”
After finishing her GCSEs, Tilly tried college but it was too much for her. She took on an apprenticeship instead, passed that and got an NVQ. That’s helped her work her way up – and today she is proud to be a deputy manager at the pub.
“I really can’t imagine doing anything else,” she says. “I did try it – I left the pub for a while but I had to go back. It’s just like a comfort blanket – I feel comfortable because I know everyone there.”
Watch Tilly’s story
Watch Skye talking in this short video about the impact that working at The White Horse has had on her life.
Luca attended Anthropy 2026, speaking at Plunkett’s session entitled ‘Are we calling last orders on rural youth?’
Skye’s experience at The White Horse in Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, also shows the wider impact of community hospitality.
She says, “When I graduated university and I came back to the village, I wasn’t 100% sure what to do, both job-wise and just in general. Loneliness and isolation were big things.
“But working at the pub, gives you a sense of being a part of something – you’re involved with your co-workers, with the community, with those visiting. You feel like you’re important and you make a difference for other people.”
Westbury Shop and Café in Northamptonshire has played a massive part in the young life of 17-year-old Luca.
He first got involved before it even opened, when he was seven, and has supported the business in many ways over the 10 years, from fundraising before the building opened through to café and kitchen work. He now runs its Thursday community cinema.
Luca says: “My parents travel for work, so getting another job would’ve been impossible growing up,” he says. “I couldn’t have left the village. Having work so close to home has made a huge difference.”
He adds that working through the Covid lockdowns helped him build confidence. “Being able to communicate with people of different ages, in a kind environment, has had a big effect on my life.”
These stories highlight what community- owned hospitality can offer young people: practical skills, confidence and a sense of connection.
They are often one of the few accessible routes into work in rural areas, and they play a vital role in supporting young people as they take their first steps.
With the right support, these businesses can continue to create opportunities for our young people today – and for generations to come.
Save Rural Hospitality
This is why Plunkett is raising funds through our Save Rural Hospitality Crowdfunder, to help us support more rural communities to start and sustain community owned hospitality businesses.
Please donate to our Crowdfunder or share it with others. Your support helps ensure that young people, wherever they live, have access to meaningful opportunities in hospitality close to home, at this challenging time.
