Vince Kelly from the Mayor of London and Capital City College Westminster (Kingsway) explains all in this informative episode. This is an initiative we should all get behind as an industry. #talkinghospitality #hospitality #podcast #mayoroflondon #skillspassport #citycollegewestminster #kingswaycollege
In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by Olajide Alabi, one of the UK’s most engaging voices in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion — and Co-Founder of SISU, the People Experience Agency. Olajide breaks down what EDI really means in practice: how inclusion starts…
Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell speak with Olajide Alabi, Co-Founder of SISU, the People Experience Agency, about inclusion, equity and belonging in hospitality. They explore how EDI can move beyond “tick boxes” to genuine inclusion that improves culture, performance and business success. 🎧 Listen on Spotify / Apple /…
In this very special audio-only bonus edition of Talking Hospitality (you won’t find it on YouTube), host Timothy R Andrews is joined once again by Tracey Rashid, returning to the mic for an inspiring conversation with Mex Ibrahim, co-founder of Women in the Food Industry. Mex shares how her organisation…
In this episode, we’re joined by Vince Kelly, manager of the Mayor’s Hospitality Skills Academy at Westminster Kingsway College, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today — the skills gap. With 30 years’ experience as a chef and lecturer, Vince has seen the talent pipeline…
In this episode, we tackle one of the most avoided topics in hospitality: tax. Whether you're self-employed, running a growing business, or just trying to make sense of payroll and forecasting, this conversation with Sema Ziler of Elan Tax is packed with straight-talking advice and practical insight. Sema joins Timothy…
What does it mean to reconnect with your culture through food — and why are so many people in hospitality paying attention to Sri Lankan cuisine right now? In this episode, we speak with Ranji Thangiah, co-founder of the Sri Lankan Culture Collective, about the personal journey that led her…
Safeguarding in hospitality should be more than just policy, it should be embedded in a business' culture. In this episode, we explore how training, awareness, and prevention can transform venues into safer spaces for both staff and guests. In this powerful episode of Talking Hospitality, we’re joined by Eren Bessim,…
When we chat about the potential of AI in hospitality, one of the big ideas we dive into is the concept of agentic AI. Essentially, we’re talking about creating little digital helpers—think minions from Despicable Me—that can take on specific tasks, learn from context, and get better over time. Instead…
Hospitality is at the heart of what makes London the greatest city in the world, and in this episode, we're diving deep into that very idea! Jason shares his unforgettable encounter with Bill Clinton, who declared London the best city, sparking an inspiration that led to the creation of the…
In this episode, Timothy and Joe are joined by the brilliant Akashia Carswell, CEO of London Talent and founder of Hive Cru, a new platform aiming to revolutionise temp recruitment in the hospitality sector. They dig into: • Why the current recruitment model is broken • The invisible cost of…
What does real allyship look like in hospitality — and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience, Talking Hospitality host Timothy R Andrews is joined by Tris Reid-Smith, founder of Pride Wide, for an urgent and inspiring conversation on…
What happens when hospitality businesses keep saying “we support mental health” — but don’t back it up with action? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rachel Kerr-Lapsley, Managing Director of Kelly’s Cause (https://www.kellyscause.com) , the mental health charity changing how the industry supports its people — from the…
In this powerful and personal episode, we speak with Matt Cameron, founder of TMC People Agency and co-founder of WellJam, who shares the story behind his mission to transform toxic hospitality workplaces into thriving ones. Matt opens up about his early years in hospitality, the pressure-cooker environments that almost cost…
Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell speak with Olajide Alabi, Co-Founder of SISU, the People Experience Agency, about inclusion, equity and belonging in hospitality. In the full episode, they explore how EDI can move beyond “tick boxes” to genuine inclusion that improves culture, performance and business success. Top tips from…
Out on Tuesday 21st October! Top tips from the crew at Talking Hospitality podcast - providing solutions & support for the Hospitality industry. http://www.talkinghospitality.com/ This is more than just a podcast — it's a platform for voices across the global hospitality industry. At Talking Hospitality, we bring together the people…
Running a hospitality business or working for yourself? Then you’ll know tax can feel like a minefield — especially when you’ve got a business to run, customers to look after, and receipts piling up on your desk. In this episode, Joe McDonnell and Timothy R. Andrews sit down with Sema…
Can a unified skills passport finally solve the UK’s hospitality skills crisis? In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Timothy R. Andrews and Joe McDonnell sit down with Vince Kelly, Manager of the Mayor’s Hospitality Skills Academy at Westminster Kingsway College, to explore a groundbreaking new approach to training and recruitment…
Have you ever wondered why Sri Lankan food is popping up on menus, supper clubs, and food festivals across the UK? In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Tim and Joe are joined by food writer, podcaster, and festival founder Ranjit Thangia, who takes us on a vibrant journey through the…
Preview Our New Theme Tune | Official Theme Tune Preview Welcome to the official preview of our brand-new theme tune! This fresh sound represents the next chapter of our journey and sets the stage for everything we’ll be sharing with you on this channel. It’s more than just music—it’s the…
Safeguarding in hospitality is a responsibility. In this episode of Talking Hospitality, we sit down with Eren Bessim from Safer Business Network to unpack how frontline training and cultural change can keep both your team and guests safe. From tackling drink spiking, harassment, and hidden vulnerabilities, to preparing for legislation…
🎙️ Talking Hospitality | Season 5 Episode 11 Guest: Tris Reid-Smith – Founder, Pride Wide Topic: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Hospitality | Real Allyship | Pride Beyond the Rainbow What does real LGBTQIA+ inclusion look like in hospitality? And how can we move from token gestures to authentic, year-round support for…
Discover how agentic AI is reshaping the hospitality industry as Timothy R Andrews sits down with Matt Grimshaw, founder of Youda. In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Matt explains what agentic AI is, how it differs from traditional tools like ChatGPT, and why it’s uniquely suited to enhancing employee experiences…
Jason Gale, Founder of London Lifestyle Awards, shares how having your team participate in awards can massively increase retention. #talkinghospitality #LLA2025 #Londonlifestyleawards #hospitality #londontoparis tips from the crew at Talking Hospitality podcast - providing solutions & support for the Hospitality industry. http://www.talkinghospitality.com/ This is more than just a podcast —…
