Will there be enough staff for your staycation?

However, almost half the UK jobs lost over the past year were within the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism sector according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS reported that hospitality businesses were the worst hit over the last 12 months losing 43% of the national total - over 355,000 employees. That’s a significant amount of people to find and train, irrespective of the new and existing challenges facing the sector. 

Has furlough helped and hindered?

The furlough scheme has undoubtedly supported hospitality businesses to keep their teams employed ready for re-opening when the call came. However, as many start to complete their first rotas they are discovering some employees have simply crept away from the business. Many have returned to their home country whilst others have found another job that better suits their lifestyle. Therefore when the call has gone out to return to posts, unfortunately many employers have found there were less people able to pick up. 

The Brexit Effect

The UK hospitality industry has historically relied on a transient workforce that can easily adapt to the seasonality of the sector. Hospitality and Catering News reported this week that pre-Brexit, 12-24% of the workforce were employed from the EU. However, all migrant workers EU and Non-EU must now earn at least £26,500 a year and have secured a ‘suitable job’ before they enter the UK.  These requirements make it impossible for employers to continue offering employment opportunities. 

Increase in UK Holidays

With the ever changing restrictions on international travel many UK residents will choose to holiday at home this year adding more pressure to our hospitality businesses as they face a booming market with the prospect of not having the employees to capitalise. 

Hospitality jobs are just not fashionable

Careers in hospitality have always struggled to be placed at the top of any school's leavers wish list, yet it's often where our young people first experience the world of work. Essential skills of teamwork, working to deadlines, effective communication and customer service are often learnt in a hospitality environment providing a strong framework that students use as they progress into their full-time careers.

It’s a situation replicated all over the country in varying degrees.  Our career pages at the Lake District Hotels Association have never seen so much activity as our local hotels and attractions look to recruit the numbers they need to re-open.  

Support from the Government is urgently needed to offer the wide-ranging measures to counteract the challenges faced by the industry.  A dedicated Minister for Hospitality, though debated at the beginning of the year, has yet to materialise. Perhaps when our MPs are forced to wait to be served they may realise the support our industry needs, both to re-open and beyond.