Hospitality sector urges govt to tackle recruitment crisis
The current vacancy rate for hospitality businesses stands at 11% compared to the national average of 4%, a problem which reportedly costs the industry £22bn a year
UKHospitality, the BBPA, BII, the Institute of Hospitality and charity Springboard, have addressed MP Mel Stride in a joint letter calling on the minister’s support in an industry-wide recruitment campaign.
The hospitality industry’s letter follows a survey that showed the current vacancy rate for hospitality businesses stands at 11% compared to the national average of 4%, a problem which reportedly costs the industry £22bn a year.
In addition, industry bodies have also written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the survey’s results showing that job vacancies in the sector are almost three times the national average.
In their letter, they reportedly outlined the severity of the recruitment crisis, urging him to “publicly” support the steps being taken to address it and to implement policies to alleviate recruitment pressures.
The letter is also said to point to the newly-launched ‘Hospitality Rising’ campaign, which aims to change the perception of what it’s like to work in pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels, and encourage more people to take up “fast-progressing and fulfilling careers” in hospitality.
Previously, the groups have also called on the Government to take action to resolve this crisis by providing greater flexibility in the apprenticeship levy and increasing the number of youth mobility visas available to allow more people with the right skills to come to the UK.
In a joint statement, the organisations said: “The recruitment crisis currently facing pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars across the UK is causing an existential threat to our industry. This is not a problem facing just one type of venue or hospitality business, it is a universal issue, and it is critical.
“Since the pandemic, vacancies in our sector have rocketed. Couple this with the current extreme cost of doing business, and you have a perfect storm which will force many businesses to close for good without urgent intervention.”
They added: “We are already collaborating as a sector to demonstrate the dynamism of our businesses and the opportunity careers in hospitality offer, but we need the Government to help unlock our potential by ensuring there is a sustained talent pool available.”
