Geelong Advertiser

Coast staffing struggle

Survey reveals businesses have trouble recruiting in winter

- CHAD VAN ESTROP

SURF Coast businesses are struggling to attract and retain staff, with the winter months proving the most difficult time to recruit.

Problems faced by Surf Coast businesses were revealed in a recent survey that gathered 135 responses.

Twenty-eight businesses surveyed told the shire it was difficult to fill vacancies during the summer months, while 47 said they had trouble in the winter months.

Leon Walker, who owns Lorne cafe Health and Hire with wife Katie, said seasonal shifts in the population at the holiday hotspot meant his staff fluctuated between three and eight.

“It is an issue to try and retain staff,” Mr Walker said.

“It’s pretty well known that there isn’t much accommodat­ion available during peak season.

“You almost have to find accommodat­ion (for staff to live in) before finding a person for the role.”

Surf Coast Shire environmen­t and developmen­t general manager Ransce Salan said businesses reporting difficulti­es with staff retention increased by 5 per cent from council’s 2018 business survey.

“The survey indicates it is becoming increasing­ly difficult to attract and retain profession­als,” Mr Salan said.

“The positions most difficult to fill continue to be hospitalit­y, including chefs and housekeepe­rs, profession­als, retail, and technical and trade workers.”

The survey found half of respondent­s reported increased energy costs was a barrier affecting business.

Most businesses surveyed said performanc­e was the same or better than last year.

More than 40 per cent operated from home, and 44 per cent had been in business for 10 years or more.

Only 12 per cent of businesses surveyed bought all their goods and services in the Surf Coast Shire.

Thirty-two per cent of survey respondent­s told council they needed to be trained on how to best use Facebook to market their business.

About Barbecues and Fireplaces owner Mike Craft said developing an effective advertisin­g strategy remained a challenge.

“No matter how much advertisin­g we do across multiple streams people tend not to know we’re in existence,” he said.

The family-run Torquay business, which employs four people, plans to put more resources into developing its website and growing its online and social media following.

Mr Craft said offering advice on social media as to how customers could use the products sold through the business proved an effective strategy in growing an online following.

More than 5000 businesses operate in the shire.

 ??  ?? Mike Craft and Bruce Dargavel from About Barbecues and Fireplaces in Torquay say an effective advertisin­g strategy is a challenge.
Mike Craft and Bruce Dargavel from About Barbecues and Fireplaces in Torquay say an effective advertisin­g strategy is a challenge.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia