Article by: Denis Sheehan, H&C News
As hospitality moves through the early phases of reopening it is perfectly clear already there are not sufficient numbers of skilled and experienced people to part open never mind fully open.
The biggest part of that lack of human resource is due to the changes in freedom of movement legislation excluding non UK nationals from entering the UK to work.
The problem is already upon us, it was yesterday, it is today, and it will be tomorrow.
No amount of ad hoc recruitment initiatives will be sufficient to remedy a shortfall of circa 356,000 skilled and experienced EU nationals. In the days, weeks and months ahead hospitality is expected to reopen and meet pent up demand for service as normal, and the added assumption of facilitating a staycation boom. As is that cannot be achieved.
The only fix that is immediate and can rescue reopening and a summer of hospitality is for government to temporarily relax legislation excluding non UK nationals from entering the UK to work.
People and skills shortages have been present in hospitality for decades, and for sure a far wider short, medium, and long term plan needs to be addressed by hospitality to end it. That plan needs to look at hospitality’s place throughout the whole education system, and perceptions of hospitality as a career choice, both with potential young employees and parents. There are many initiatives already being fast tracked across the industry, and many initiatives for the future. But none of those individually, or collectively will remedy what we face today, not enough people to do the jobs to reopen.
Undoubtedly the government does not want to change their legislation excluding non UK nationals from entering the UK to work. But perhaps have not fully factored the impact of their legislation on an industry they hope can lead an economic recovery and the return of a feel good factor amongst the general public. Who knows what the reasoning is beyond political obduracy?
The fact of the matter is that unless the rules are temporarily relaxed countless more hospitality businesses will cease to exist, and hundreds of thousands of jobs will disappear.
A petition to Parliament to debate the subject is now active, by signing it you at least ask if a group of cross party MPs can represent the interests of hospitality to government. If you do not agree with the petition that is your right. If you do agree, and fear of failure to achieve the debate has or is stopping you from signing, please reconsider.
The government are there to listen to voters and that includes those who work in hospitality. Change can be achieved but only through action, please act now and take a few minutes to sign the petition and we can all at least say that we tried. To do nothing is to accept defeat.
News from the hospitality and catering industry is also being featured extensively in our Facebook and twitter social media accounts with the opportunity to engage with others in hospitality and share your views.
Hospitality & Catering News: Fear of failure is never an excuse to not try. – 29 June 2021 – Fear of failure is never an excuse to not try.
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