Closing hospitality skills gap

The suggestion that remote working may continue after 19 July is disappointing for our business.

Baxterstorey Scotland Ltd is the UK’S largest independent foodservice provider, offering bespoke workplace dining for the likes of Natwest Group, Amazon and Queen Margaret University, from delis and restaurants to coffee shops.

We rely on those returning to universities and the workplace, working, and socialising in town centres, business districts and cities.

Despite the end of restrictions set for 19 July, businesses are apprehensive about inviting staff back into the office, while universities across the country are still offering students online learning, so we only require a skeleton staff at some locations.

Now furlough is beginning to come to an end, companies are having to shoulder more of the costs until the scheme finishes in September, while businesses like ours are still unable to run at full capacity.

As many locations begin to reopen, the hospitality skills gap becomes more apparent. We know people have left our sector, relocating to their home countries or moving into other sectors altogether.

This is a huge hit to our industry and we must come together to address the issue. Across Baxterstorey, I have spoken to individuals who have chosen to retrain and take a different career path altogether; from bricklaying and security work, to setting up their own businesses in different sectors.

This trend is concerning and shows people are not viewing our industry as reliable at the moment. The impact of Covid-19 has seen us lose some brilliant talent.

Our industry needs to come together and look at offering more flexible working hours, increased pay levels, and offer training programmes.

My first taste of the hospitality industry was at 12 years old, working as a kitchen porter in the Lake District. My time there inspired me to attend catering college, where I developed my skills before embarking on my long career in workplace dining.

Now I oversee the running of Baxterstorey across Scotland, and my story is just one of many across the business and our wider industry.

To facilitate the development of all our staff and address the skills gap, we are actively sourcing programmes and apprenticeships, lasting between 4-12 months, so all team members can continue training while working with Baxterstorey.

We are also dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of our staff, particularly during these challenging times, and we are running a programme to qualify 100 mental health first aiders across the business by August. Jeremy Wood is regional MD for Baxterstorey in Scotland