Shaping Hospitality’s Future: 4C Group and Festival of Hospitality Host Student Takeover Day at Canopy London City
14 October 2025
4C Group, in partnership with the Festival of Hospitality, hosted an inspiring Student Takeover Day at Canopy by Hilton London City. Driven by a commitment to supporting future generations, 4C Group is passionate about opening doors and creating meaningful career development opportunities for young people.
As part of the Festival of Hospitality’s Pay It Forward initiative, 30 ambitious sixth-form students from schools across London took part in a day designed to open doors for young talent – offering insight into the wide range of career pathways within the industry, from design and development to guest experience and hotel operations.
Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to gain first-hand insights and advice from professionals working across various departments, including Rooms Division, Food & Beverage, Culinary, Sales, Marketing, the Director of Administration, and General Management. They participated in interactive sessions that explored the full hospitality lifecycle – from concept and design to construction, operations, and guest experience.
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The agenda also included a MYstorySLAM session, where industry professionals shared their personal journeys into hospitality, offering inspiration and guidance. To round off the experience, students were taken on guided tours of Canopy London City, exploring both front and back-of-house areas such as guest rooms, kitchens, training facilities, and the iconic Florattica Rooftop Bar.
The success of the day was made possible thanks to the collective effort of our partners, including the Festival of Hospitality, the dedicated team at Canopy London City, our inspiring guest speakers, and of course, the students who joined us. Additional thanks go to our supporting partners, including Pillar, Edyn, Locke Hotels, and Reed Global, who played a key role in connecting participating schools with this opportunity.
”Hospitality is really about embracing the joy of building connections and creating community through service. Our industry offers rewarding opportunities to grow, learn and make a positive impact. If you’re passionate about great service and enjoy building meaningful relationships – hospitality awaits.’’
– Idy Udo, Group Director of Administration
These initiatives aim to create clear entry points into the hospitality industry, helping young people build essential skills, gain valuable experience, and grow the confidence needed to succeed in their future careers. The event also marks 4C Group’s ongoing commitment to nurturing future leaders and fostering inclusive opportunities within the sector. We look forward to welcoming even more young minds through our doors in the future.
About 4C Group
4C Group manages and develops properties and hotels in key business districts and leisure hot spots across the UK, East Africa and Canada. The company was formed in 2010, building on the foundations of a family property business that stretches back to the 1990s.
In 2021, 4C Group added two new developments to their portfolio, including the five-star Westin London City and Canopy by Hilton London City. Both hotels represent the first in the UK-based Marriott and Hilton luxury and lifestyle brands market.
In 2022, 4C Group partnered with Regal London and Pluto Finance to deliver The Haydon, a residential tower of 87 apartments in Aldgate in the heart of the City of London, which is now complete.
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