In mid-May, out of pure frustration, I tweeted the headline above, the response it brought included a whole heap of issues I, and many others, have been aware of for quite some time.
Now, through the crucible of social media, the subject magnified sparking constructive conversations (and not so constructive trolling), and a subset of people whose lack of experience in the matter has given rise to the, quite frankly wrong impression that this is a NEW PROBLEM. It is not, so, I needed to pen my thoughts.
The immigration policy that has been thrown upon us (hospitality) by Government has been simmering for almost 18 months, but due to Covid was forced to take a backseat.
Covid and multiple lockdowns have severely damaged our industry, as we emerge from it current immigration policy will put us right back on our knees.
This is not hindsight. Back, in March 2020, alongside Robert Richardson (CEO, The Institute of Hospitality) I organised an event due to take place at The Savoy in London which was aptly named – Immigration Policy & Hospitality Talent- with the goal to point our industry at the cliff we were about to fall from. It attracted key speakers, big names, fiscal support from HIT and Caterer.com, and a huge amount of interest, but days before it was due to take place lockdown struck.
Despite the challenges since last March the above means something. This was something to hold on to; we were united, we were interested, passionate, and we all wanted to effect change.
Remember when the petition to create a Minister for Hospitality got over 200,000 signatures? There is no reason why we as an industry cannot come together again and support the petition asking the government to relax immigration rules to allow hospitality to recover and for the economy to grow again.
The people shortage is not ‘our’ problem, it is everyone’s problem.
That is everyone that enjoys visiting a pub on a Friday night, dinner in a fine dining restaurant or a quick sandwich on the lunch run from work. We simply do not have the people available to cope with demand. What does that mean? It means operators will have to work with what is available, and that means operating hours will reduce, menus will have less choice, and some businesses will not be able to continue.
What can we do?
We can change perceptions, educate people about the issues, make our individual voices known and unite in the need for change.
A small subset of people have contrary views, and that’s OK. What is not OK is to abuse from behind the safety of a mobile screen, or claim the problem is brand new and has just crept up on us. Neither of these approaches are acceptable, neither are helpful and both are diametrically opposed to the very spirt of what it means to be hospitable. And if that describes you, then you have no place in our Hospitality Family.
Once one of the biggest contributors to UK PLC, hospitality has over the past 15 months endured challenges never seen, and come out the other side, ready, in spirit, if with not enough people, to resume being hospitable. Signing the petition shows you recognise the dilemma, and you care enough to do something about it. Every signature counts.
I am writing this not only as a paid up fan of hospitality, and a small business owner, but someone who believes there can be – needs to be – changes made for now and for the future.
Venting my spleen will not make a significant impact on its own, but those that agree with me joining in and saying what they think, could.
Surely to make a change, every facet of the hospitality industry must join forces to share the problems and create solutions, together.
Because the problems are here, they have been for a long time, and they need solving.
So, lets rally the troops and do just that!
Oh, and please sign the petition so we can welcome back our colleagues, and work with them again in extending our best hospitality.
Louise Phelps MIH, Founder of LJ People
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Hospitality & Catering News: Jesus wept…where are all the chefs at? Seriously. – 20 May 2021 – Jesus wept…where are all the chefs at? Seriously.
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