Hospitality Works bids to ease staffing crisis

14-Feb-2019 - Last updated on 15-Feb-2019 at 14:00 GMT

Skills shortage: the Hospitality Works campaign to tackle employment challenges returns in 2019

Returning in 2019, the annual campaign will aim to tackle skills and labour shortages in the hospitality industry.

Led by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), The Springboard Charity, UKHospitality and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), this year’s Hospitality Works campaign will promote the diverse range of career opportunities available across the hospitality sector – which currently faces a skills shortage.

Since its inception in 2015, the annual Hospitality Works campaign has created in excess of 8,000 placements.

This year’s edition will revolve around two flagship ‘Big Bash Events’ in Manchester and Leeds – taking place on 20 February and 8 March respectively – and offering employers the chance to meet with their local Jobcentre Plus and potential job applicants.

Moreover, Hospitality Works 2019 will be supported by some of the biggest employers in the industry with the likes of Marston’s, McDonald’s, Hilton, Ei Group, Caffè Nero, Bourne Leisure and YO! Sushi all visiting schools, holding events at job centres and welcoming jobseekers into their businesses.

Crisis point

Discussing the launch of the campaign, Springboard’s chief executive Anne Pierce CBE explained: “In an industry where skills shortages continue to be challenging and labour shortages heading rapidly to crisis point, there is an acute need to take positive action to attract more people from the UK into the hospitality industry and fill the growing number of vacancies – particularly in the cities.

“This is why Springboard will be, once again, joining DWP as a major partner in Hospitality Works, rallying our industry partners, ambassadors and delivery teams to engage, inspire and influence jobseekers to join our fantastic industry, through a range of national and local inspirational activities and events in partnership with job centres in every region of the country.”

Need to do more

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds added: “The BBPA is delighted to once again support the Hospitality Works campaign.

“Our industry needs to do more to recruit UK citizens to our workforce whether behind the bar or in our kitchen, as pub chefs, or wider roles within the team.

“I am pleased our members are taking part in this important campaign up and down the country, working with job centres and potential employees.

“Campaigns such as Hospitality Works do a great job of promoting the huge variety of career options that the hospitality sector can provide, enabling those looking for work to embark on an exciting and rewarding career.”

Endless opportunities

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls commented: “The hospitality sector is a challenging and rewarding place to work, offering a wide range of roles to suit employers and employees in almost any situation.

“We are sometimes unfairly seen as only offering part-time or temporary work. In reality, there is almost no end to what we can offer for hard-working, driven individuals looking to embark on a long and exciting career across a variety of diverse roles.

“Hospitality Works is a great initiative to get that message out to employers and people looking to work in a vibrant sector, and UKHospitality is very proud to support it.”

Interested in working in the pub industry? Then take a look at MA’s jobs site.