Hospitality companies are stepping up their efforts to hire UK-based talent as the sector aims to fill 990,000 summer jobs, according to new research from recruitment platform Caterer.com.
The Olympic Games, Euro 2024 and Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated UK tour have led to 80% of hospitality businesses planning to expand their workforce.
Caterer.com has seen the number of vacancies for roles increase by almost a quarter (24%) between January and March 2024, with the increase driven by Scotland (68% increase in vacancies), the North East (62%) and Yorkshire ( 43%).
The national recruitment trend is increasing
However, according to the research, which surveyed 100 hospitality decision makers and 2,000 UK workers, a quarter (25%) of hospitality businesses, such as pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants, believe there is a lack of available in their local area talent. is a major challenge in recruitment. 64% of hospitality companies are most concerned about hiring year-round chefs, followed by general management (59%).
The research shows that 69% of hospitality businesses feel that leaving the EU continues to impact their ability to recruit staff, with the vast majority now expanding their search for talent in Britain. In a significantly growing trend, 85% of companies are actively recruiting talent from outside their region.
70% stated that hiring staff from another part of the country would help bridge the gap created by the shortage of EU workers, and that scaling up recruitment from other parts of the UK is a top priority is for a fifth (18%) of companies. 27% try to attract non-local candidates by offering housing support, a fifth (21%) offer relocation packages and 25% offer flexible service patterns.
We focus on untapped talent pools
Hospitality companies introducing initiatives to attract workers from across the UK coincide with an increase in worker mobility. The research shows that three in ten workers are willing to move to another part of Britain for work, while almost half (43%) of 18-34 year olds are willing to move for a chance at the long-term. The top reasons were better job opportunities (47%), better quality of life (45%) and advancement in their career (40%). While many hospitality companies believe the industry needs to overcome a perception problem, 52% of employees believe that working in hospitality is a great way to settle into a new environment.
With acute demand for employees, the hospitality industry is also adapting and turning to previously untapped talent pools. Nearly a quarter (24%) have stated that they engage with less conventional demographic groups, such as ex-offenders.
Calvern James, Director of Hospitality Management at Caterer.com, commented: “Hospitality recruiters have left the EU for Edinburgh and Essex as they become increasingly creative in finding talent in Britain. This could be a hotel in Devon advertising for workers in Scotland, or a cafe in Yorkshire targeting people thinking of leaving London.
“The sector has remained resilient in recent years despite unprecedented challenges and strict immigration rules have pushed companies to look for workers in less conventional places. Companies that are having the most success recruiting from different parts of Britain are prioritizing new benefits and initiatives, such as housing support and expanded onboarding, as they develop their employer brand to appeal to a broader audience.”
Despite hospitality companies claiming that leaving the EU will impact their recruitment opportunities, Britain remains a highly sought-after location for workers around the world and 36% of professionals worldwide are actively looking to move to the UK for work. London is still a magnet for its language and exceptional global network. Other attractive cities for international workers include Edinburgh, Birmingham, Belfast and Glasgow.
You can download the full report here.
Methodology
Caterer.com commissioned the following research via Opinium:
2,000 UK adults between April 9 – April 12, 2024
Recruit 100 catering decision makers between April 5 and April 10, 2024
Calculation: As of 2023, there are 174,380 companies in Great Britain (ONS). According to the survey conducted by Caterer.com on behalf of Opinium, 80% plan to increase their workforce (139,864), an average of 7.1 positions to accommodate the summer. This amounts to another 993,034.
About Caterer.com
Caterer.com is the recruitment platform for the catering industry that matches the right people with the right vacancies. Caterer.com’s unparalleled technology, teams and solutions help companies reach the right hospitality professionals with their jobs and brand messages. With unique search, matching and interview tools, Caterer.com is built to find you the right catering employees for future business success.