From food price hikes to missed bin collections - there's not just a staffing crisis in hospitality
This week we're looking at the impact of the current staffing crisis in some sectors and it's knock-on impacts.
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.
In Somerset a national shortage of qualified drivers has affected bin collections and there has been similar issues in Torbay.
Below is Andrew Kay's report into the knock-on effects of the current staffing crisis in some sectors
Alistair Tudor, operations manger at Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said: “The sudden resurgence of business activity has meant that businesses who need to recruit are confronted by a tight labour market, especially for skilled staff.
“The double impact of Brexit and Covid-19 has had major impacts on the location and availability of the workforce in the South West, with a falling but still significant proportion of our residents on either furlough or Universal Credit.
Somerset Waste Partnership MD Mickey Green has apologised for disruptions caused by a national lack of trained drivers
“We cannot let the talent and potential of our communities go to waste, or for that matter put at risk our economic recovery, due to tricky but ultimately solvable labour market challenges.”
Torbay Council Leader Steve Darling discusses the current problems with bin collections
Marston Foods, based near Frome, which and makes high-quality frozen desserts said recruitment difficulties were already pushing up prices across the entire supply chain and urgent short-term action was needed to allow more skilled workers into the UK.
Leona McDonald, Marston Foods’ Commercial Director, said: “As a high-end food manufacturer, we require workers with some level of skill to make our desserts. It takes time and money to train people to the standards that we require, and so once we have people we like to keep them, but we have lost a lot of our loyal European workforce and there seems to be very few local people to train.
Leona McDonald, Marston Foods’ Commercial Director, warns food prices could now rise because of the shortage of skilled workers
“We live in a disparately populated area, with low unemployment and a rather lapse public transport system. There are applicants, but due to the remit with regards to benefit claims, a majority never take the application process any further and so we waste time chasing and calling to no avail. Offering higher pay and other benefits - which we are doing - is only part of the solution to a much wider issue.
“The shortage is already causing price increases and shortages across the whole supply chain making this is everyone’s problem. Pretty soon, if nothing is done, consumers will not be able to get what they need, like or want and if they do, the price is going to have to increase as suppliers such as ourselves cannot keep being squeezed and still survive.
“We need some short-term action for example, an extension to the T5 skilled workers list to include manufacturing, and a plan to enable labour availability for the short, medium and long term, not just the long via the long-term plans such as the apprenticeship scheme.
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.