'We will develop homegrown talent' say Government, despite concerns over staffing shortages
Despite concerns about staffing shortages, The Government's told us it won't be allowing lots more short-term workers into the UK to help plug the gaps.
Last updated 9th Jul 2021
In some areas of the West Country eight in ten places have vacancies as a result of Brexit and the pandemic.
Hospitality has been hardest hit, with some restaurants staying closed at times due to the shortages.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng tells us they’re listening to concerns and investing in training homegrown staff.
An official Government spokesperson added: "We’ve implemented an unprecedented package of measures to support businesses during the pandemic and our Plan for Jobs is helping people across the country retrain, build new skills and get back into work.
“Employers should invest in our domestic workforce instead of relying on labour from abroad and the Government will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure employers can access the skilled workforce they need as we safely reopen the economy, including through schemes like Kickstart, apprenticeships, and traineeships.”
This week a West of England 'Jobs and Skills Summit' has been taking place, organised by newly elected metro mayor, Labour's Dan Norris (see video below).
During the week he's been talking with apprentices in Bristol and Radstock;, community learners in South Gloucestershire; Bath mums returning to work, and students at Weston College.
He said: “We urgently need to make sure more people in the West of England have the opportunity of decent, well-paid and fulfilling jobs.
"I want to hear first-hand from local people about their experiences so that I can put in place more support to help at this difficult time.”
Through listening to residents’ views on jobs and skills in the region, Dan says he will shape new, targeted training, education and career support programs - which he says 'will enable us to help provide the jobs our the future to kickstart our recovery'.
Thomas Aram is a student who is working to develop new skills after struggling during the past year as a result of the pandemic
A spokesperson for the department for work and pensions added that the Conservative Government is taking steps to address the current staffing shortages:
· Kickstart is giving young people the chance to build their confidence and skills in the workplace, and to gain experience that will improve their chances of going on to find long-term, sustainable work.
· The government is tripling the scale of traineeships in England for 16 to 24 year olds to support young people not in education or employment to get the skills they need to get into employment. Traineeships have proven outcomes for young people with 75% progressing into employment or further study within a year. At the Budget, the government announced an additional £126 million for traineeships in the 2021-22 academic year.
· There is an extension of the apprenticeship hiring incentive to September 2021 and an increase of payment to £3,000 for each newly hired apprentice of any age. The payment is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment to support the employers of apprentices aged 16-18 (and those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan).
· Building on commitments made at SR20 and Budget 21, the government is launching a £7 million fund to help English employers set up and expand a new portable approach to apprenticeships. The new “flexi-job” apprenticeship programme will enable apprentices to work with several employers in one sector, providing them with the training, skills and practical work experience they need to launch their careers. Employers themselves will also benefit from access to a diverse apprenticeship talent pipeline.
· The British people voted for us to end free movement and take back control of our immigration system, and that is exactly what we have delivered. We have implemented a new points-based system which works in the interests of the UK by prioritising the skills we already have in the UK while attracting the talent our economy needs to grow.
· The points-based system supports a wider package of interventions that make up our long-term approach to the labour market and our strategy to rebuild our economy, supporting businesses to grow and get people back to work.
· This includes support for the hospitality sector, through expansion of the roles which now qualify for our new Skilled Worker Route, including chefs, as well as pub, bar, restaurant and hotel managers provided salary and other key requirements of the route are met.”
· As the independent Migration Advisory Committee concluded in its most recent report, it is important that businesses make jobs more attractive to UK workers by increasing salaries rather than relying on migrants, particularly as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Immigration must be considered alongside investment in, and development of, the UK's domestic labour force, rather than as an alternative to it.
· Last year, the Home Office launched a £3m awareness campaign for UK employers, informing them that freedom of movement was ending and that they may need to take steps to adapt their recruitment practices. We have also remained in consultation with representatives of the hospitality sector throughout this period and supported them where possible.
How far are bosses having to go to keep hold of staff and attract new candidates?
A shortage in hospitality staff is forcing some bosses to pay £1,000 bonuses if their employees can help them find staff - while other bosses are increasingly making counter offers to keep staff and stop rival firms poaching them.
James Tuckett, from Somerset-based One Step Recruitment which operates across the West Country, said: "I've been in recruitment seven years and I've certainly never seen the amount of roles we're getting on a regular basis - almost a daily basis.
To see a video interview with James click here
What suggestions are there to improve the situation?
There's calls to stop people having a second job while being paid furlough to help ease the current staffing crisis in the hospitality sector - also for Australian-style 'Covid Recovery Visas'.
Around eight in 10 firms are reporting trouble hiring new workers - while a Chambers of Commerce survey of other industries found those needing drivers and skilled staff are also having trouble hiring.
Industry body UK Hospitality is also calling for temporary immigration changes to allow non-UK workers to help plug some of the current gaps - while calling for extra support for training and development of home-grown employees.
The group says it would also support an Australian style 'Covid Recovery Visa' to support sectors 'disproportionately hit by Covid'.
For more about the calls from UK Hospitality click here
Are other sectors also struggling with staffing issues?
A survey by the British Chambers of Commerce South West reveal two thirds of employers needing 'highly skilled manual and technical roles' are struggling to fill positions - and one in three are struggling with 'semi or unskilled' roles.
A report by Greatest Hits Radio on the knock-on impacts of the staffing shortage in sectors such as food manufacturing and refuse collection can be found by clicking here
Could staffing vacancies scupper 'Freedom Day' as venues struggle to open?
Greatest Hits Radio has obtained evidence of employers being effectively 'gazumped' with rival firms making higher last minute offers - even after new workers have signed contracts.
UK Hospitality estimates the sector has a nine per cent vacancy rate, or a shortage of 188,000 workers. Around eight in 10 hospitality operators are reporting vacancies - with front of house and cooking staff roles hardest to fill.
To see our special video report focussing on the challenges in the hospitality industry click here.