Professional Background and Role
Gareth Townsend is currently the Sales Director and a Director at Change Hospitality, having joined the company in 2015 and promoted to Director in 2019. He brings over 20 years of recruitment experience specifically focused on the hospitality industry. Prior to his recruitment career, Gareth worked in operations within hospitality, starting as a Management Trainee at Shepherd Neame and progressing through various Operations Manager roles in boutique hotels and gastro pubs. His core expertise lies in recruiting permanent front of house talent for restaurants, bars, and hotels, positioning him as a key figure in talent acquisition within the hospitality sector.
Company Context: Change Hospitality
Change Hospitality is a specialist recruitment business dedicated to the hospitality industry, particularly in front of house roles. The company navigates sector-specific staffing challenges such as rising National Insurance contributions and employer cost pressures, which have been recently affecting hospitality businesses’ hiring capabilities and operational hours. Gareth has publicly shared insights on how these economic factors are reshaping hiring practices, highlighting his active role in advising and supporting client businesses through changing recruitment landscapes.
Industry Expertise and Thought Leadership
Gareth Townsend is recognized as a prominent industry speaker with a global presence at major marketing and hospitality events including SXSW, AdWeek, D&AD, Festival of Marketing, Social Media Week, and Mumbrella360. His talks commonly engage with the evolving dynamics of hospitality recruitment, workforce challenges, and strategic staffing solutions. His thought leadership is reflected in expert conversations and interviews, notably on topics such as the impact of National Insurance increases on hospitality hiring.
Key Responsibilities and Activities
- Leading sales and client relationship management at Change Hospitality.
- Providing strategic recruitment solutions for hospitality businesses facing talent scarcity and cost pressures.
- Sharing sector insights through interviews, articles, and industry events.
- Recruiting permanent front of house roles, including for restaurants, hotels, and bars.
- Navigating challenges posed by economic changes (e.g., NI increases) to help clients scale hiring strategically.
Contact Information
- Email: gareth@changehospitality.co.uk
- Phone: 020 8050 6312
- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/changehospitality](http://www.linkedin.com/in/changehospitality)
Relevant Recent Insights and Sector Impact
Gareth has actively contributed to industry discourse, drawing attention to the shrinking hospitality workforce, with reports indicating over 80,000 hospitality jobs lost since recent economic shifts. His commentary has focused on how businesses are forced to scale back hiring and limit working hours due to rising employment costs. This positions Gareth as not only a recruiter but an advisor attuned to operational and financial realities impacting hospitality venues today.
This profile consolidates Gareth Townsend’s extensive sector experience, leadership within Change Hospitality, and his role as an influential voice in addressing contemporary recruitment challenges in hospitality. His combination of operational hospitality background and deep recruitment expertise makes him a key stakeholder in optimizing hospitality workforce solutions amidst ongoing economic pressures.
