With the many problems currently faced by the hospitality industry, a new platform is looking to help the industry address these problems head-on.
Clipboard Hospitality is a free platform especially catered to the hospitality industry, providing users access to job listings, training and mental health resources, and networking opportunities. In effect, it provides a centralised place for users to map out their career journeys, subsequently providing pathways for future career options.
The platform is the brainchild of Tipu Sultan and Brendan Leeds, who saw the need for an industry-specific solution to address the issues within the industry. Since its launch, over 50,000 members and 8,000 businesses are now using the platform.
“What makes Clipboard Hospitality unique is that it’s a hospitality platform designed by hospitality people,” CEO and co-founder Brendan Leeds said. “It is a specialised platform, not a one size fits all approach; the service is unique to businesses and individuals within the industry.”
Clipboard Hospitality’s major investors include Jayco Owner Gerry Ryan, Victoria Racing Club Chairman Neil Wilson, and Twenty3 Chairman Paul Leeds. It has also partnered with Skills for Life, Lonsdale Institute, Hex, Happyful, and more to provide training and mental health resources on the platform.
With its partnership with Skills for Life, Clipboard Hospitality recently commissioned a White Paper to investigate the mental health of Australia’s hospitality industry workers. The research, conducted by Clinical Psychologist Dr Lillian Nejad, found that the mental health of Aussie hospitality workers is worsening but it also provided industry-tailored wellness solutions.
“The hospitality industry is one of the largest sectors in the world, with enough variety in job roles for any kind of person, from the creative to the corporate-minded,” Leeds said. “The industry is currently valued at $100 billion and employs over 580,000 people. With mental health within the industry often forgotten about, we must invest in workers to retain staff. By arming employers with the appropriate tools and knowledge, they can promote wellness and provide the relevant mental health resources among their staff.”
“I have firsthand experienced the stigma surrounding mental health within the industry, and am proud to provide upskilling and mental health resources on the platform to address the industry’s chronic labour shortage,” Leeds added. “My vision for the future is to change the industry’s current perception. Hospitality is a long-term career, providing opportunities to travel the world, meet new people, and be part of a dynamic team.”
