Stadium caters for 300 more jobs
HUNDREDS of new hospitality jobs will be available at the North Queensland Stadium to cater for larger crowd numbers and improved facilities.
Spotless Catering will add 300 positions to its workforce, building on the 500 staff that serviced the retired 1300SMILES Stadium.
An expected boost in crowd numbers as well as improved service standards and expanded corporate and function offerings are understood to be behind the increase.
HUNDREDS of new hospitality jobs will be available at the North Queensland Stadium to cater for larger crowd numbers and improved facilities.
Spotless Catering, which won the tender at the new venue, will add 300 positions to its workforce, building on the 500 staff that serviced the retired 1300 Smiles Stadium.
An expected boost in patronage due to the stadium’s central location as well as improved service standards and expanded corporate and function offerings are understood to be behind the increase in staffing.
Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said Spotless Catering, under the new banner of Pandanus Catering, was looking to build on the current workforce in the new venue, providing all food and beverages for event days, and non-event day conference and banqueting.
“Pandanus Catering are currently targeting a total of 800 match day hospitality staff and over the coming year will also be looking to take on a number of apprenticeships once the stadium is up and running,” he said.
The decision to select the Victorian-based Spotless Group Holdings Limited over a local company came under fire earlier this year, after the Cowboys Leagues Club was snubbed for the job. It prompted a furious Cowboys Leagues Club’s chief executive Daryl Holmes to blast the decision labelling it a “missed opportunity” to support local business and provide jobs.
However, Mr de Brenni said Pandanus Catering was seeking a 100 per cent local game day workforce.
“They’ll be working with James Cook University as well as local food and beverage producers ensuring the economic benefits of the stadium continue to spread across local small business,” he said.
Pandanus Catering director of hospitality James Nicholson said they were seeking expressions of interests for a range of roles including kitchen staff, chefs, cooks, cashiers, food and beverage staff and supervisors at the venue.
“We’re looking for a worldclass executive chef to lead our culinary team, establish an appealing North Queensland Stadium food offer and continue our long-term relationships with local suppliers and food and beverage subcontractors,” he said.
Townsville MP Scott Stewart said 750 full-time jobs had already been filled by North Queenslanders on the project.
“With construction of the venue now more than 80 per cent complete, it’s exciting to see employment opportunities are shifting towards event day roles, which will provide longterm jobs for locals,” he said.