'We need to improve rural transport if we want to get more young people into work'
The General Manager of the Burgh Island Hotel says poor rural transport can be a barrier to employment
Last updated 3rd Aug 2026
After the Prime Minister said getting young people back into work was a top priority, The West County's tourist sector is warning that a lack of public transport is one of the biggest barriers here.
Sally Russell is General Manager of the Burgh Island Hotel, which now offers live-in accommodation to 70 per cent of its staff.
She says there's no buses which serve Bigbury-on-Sea - and improved public transport should be a top priority - something backed by local county councillor Louise Wainwright.
Ms Russell, who started in hospitality aged 16 at her local pub before rising through the ranks, said: "To be able to come here to work you have to be able to drive or you live here, that's all there is to it.
"We do have a number of young people who rely on parents to get them in and out of school but that's not sustainable and there's no flexibility."
She added: "We're not unique in the fact that we are a rural hotel. There's a lot of rural hotels in the South West it's what people come down for - they come for the county and coastal escapes but to be able to service that we need to be able to get a workforce there."
Ms Russell believes hospitality 'has become Britain's forgotten leadership academy - teaching resilience, commercial awareness, emotional intelligence and decision-making skills that employers across sectors increasingly value'.
She's worried that as 'employment costs continue to rise, the industry risks losing its ability to provide those vital first opportunities for young people'.
More than one million 16 to 24-year-olds are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), while youth unemployment has risen to 14.8% - its highest level in around 12 years.
Some MPs recently called for employer National Insurance relief to be extended to all under-25s, arguing it would help businesses create more opportunities for young people.
In one of his first days in the job, Prime Minister Andy Burnham held calls with business representative organisations where he set out a new offer from government to Britain’s job creators which he said was 'built around a shared ambition to drive investment, create jobs and grow the economy'.
The Prime Minister has also unveiled a fundamental change to the education system with the launch of new prestigious technical educational routes. The new pathways will provide 14-year-olds with valuable early access to technical skills, work experience and connections with local employers.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things – and that’s what this government will do. I want to ensure that our education system leaves no dead ends for our young people. The changes we’re announcing today will just be the start of our work to restore opportunity and hope across the country.”