Dr Stroma Cole leads the launch of FUTOURWORK, a new Horizon Europe project that aims to transform the future of work in tourism and hospitality by researching and promoting inclusive social dialogue and addressing the growing concerns related to platform work, job precarity and the well-being of workers.
FUTOURWORK is a three and a half-year project launching in January 2025. It is set to bring meaningful improvements in how tourism and hospitality workers are engaging with social dialogue processes, looking at the way people across different cultures and sectors work together to reach decisions. Building on this, the research aims to develop a more equitable and sustainable future for European tourism and hospitality workers.
Led by Dr Cole, Reader at the University of Westminster, FUTOURWORK brings together a dynamic consortium of eight partners from six countries: CoLABOR and Lusófona University from Portugal; Babeş-Bolyai University from Romania; The American College of Greece; Dalarna University from Sweden; Zangador Research Institute from Bulgaria, and Equality in Tourism International from the UK.
This initiative seeks to bring systemic change to how labour issues are addressed across the industry. Tourism and hospitality are a vital European economic sector employing 13 million people, 11.7% of all jobs, with a high proportion of women, migrants and youth, and 1.2 million vacancies.
The project will directly engage with workers, employers and social dialogue organisations through a range of activities, including surveys, interviews, storytelling initiatives and multi-stakeholder learning dialogues. FUTOURWORK will produce a worker well-being index for industry benchmarking, a documentary showcasing the stories of tourism and hospitality workers, as well as establishing an observatory platform to provide a one-stop shop for workers’ rights and facilitate ongoing discussions among stakeholders. These initiatives will significantly contribute to scientific knowledge, raise public awareness and promote policy changes that enhance working conditions in tourism and hospitality.
Dr Cole said: “I’m so excited I am allowed to announce the amazing news that we got our Horizon Grant: FUTOURWORK. This ambitious intersectional feminist initiative seeks to bring systemic change to how labour issues are addressed across the industry.
“So much work to do, such exciting work to do, only possible with my fabulous team: Dora, Burçe Uygur, Michela Trentin, Fiona Bakas, Monica Maria Coros, Tania Gaspar, Stanislav Ivanov, Luke Mason, Maria Vrasida, Felicia Rosioru, Equality in Tourism and the rest of the gang.”
This project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out about studying Tourism and Events Management at the University of Westminster.
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