Sixty Eight People arrives in England’s capital

01-Jun-2023 - Last updated on 01-Jun-2023 at 10:00 GMT

Tackling the staffing shortage: Female-led recruitment firm comes to London

Female-led hospitality recruitment and training consultancy Sixty Eight People has launched a new office in Euston, central London.

Founded in Manchester by Abi Dunn, one of CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year 2023, and managing director Charlotte Kemp, the company will look to transform London’s hospitality scene.

Sixty Eight People’s mission is to build the biggest hospitality network globally and use it as a force for good.

Looking to dispel the negative recruitment stereotype, the consultancy prides itself on its values-driven but straight-talking approach to hiring and training.

As the hospitality staffing crisis dominates the news agenda in London and the UK, affecting businesses in real time nationwide, Dunn and Kemp felt it was time to bring their Northern hospitality expertise to London, and wake the sector up to many of its archaic recruitment and retention practices.

In the North of England, the agency has supported companies including Dishoom, Rare Restaurants, Melia Hotels, Everyman Cinemas and Junkyard Gold.

Long time coming

Dunn said the move to London had been a long time coming for the organisation and was not a move it was taking lightly.

She continued: “We are coming to build a hospitality network and use it as a force for good, enhancing the existing sense of community the sector already has.

“The market is challenging right now, but the opportunity to support London job hunters and employers is massive. We want to bring some of our northern warrior spirit to the capital.”

The agency’s London team includes five experienced hospitality operators.

Exciting plans ahead

The consultancy is also looking to bring some of its divisions to London. This includes CLASSOF68, which was set up 18 months ago to provide innovative leadership workshops, helps operators develop and retain a management workforce with significant leadership skill gaps. There is also Sixty Eight International, which was set up following an 18 month pilot scheme to relocate kitchen talent from overseas to fill vacant roles in UK kitchens.

Kemp said: ‘'After working in the capital for the majority of my operational career, I know the London hospitality scene is unrivalled.

“Sixty Eight People isn’t your typical agency full of recruiters focused on commission – we’re a team of people who have previously held management roles in world-class hospitality operations.

“By drawing on our experiences, we bring to the capital a different recruitment experience for both candidates & clients that truly sets us apart. We are honest, authentic and we genuinely give a shit about finding brilliant people for people focused businesses.”