UK Hospitality Lessons From Europe | Staff Recruitment

What UK Hospitality Can Learn From Europe

Key Takeaways

• In Europe, hospitality roles are seen as long-term careers, not stop-gap jobs.

• Two-fifths of UK hospitality venues are at risk of closure due to staff shortages.

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential to attract and retain staff.

• Succession planning strengthens the talent pipeline and offers clear career progression.

• Apprenticeships and training can elevate hospitality jobs as respected professions.

Hospitality Roles: A European Perspective

UK hospitality businesses are struggling with staff shortages following Brexit and the pandemic. Trade body UKHospitality has warned that two-fifths of venues are at risk of closure due to a lack of staff.

Across Europe, the picture looks different. Hospitality roles are respected and viewed as careers worth pursuing for the long term. Employees often build successful, lifelong careers in hotels, restaurants, and catering.

This contrast highlights the changes the UK hospitality sector must make if it wants to attract and retain talent.

Continuing Professional Development in Hospitality

Today’s workforce, especially millennials and Gen Z, expect growth opportunities. Without development, they will move to industries that provide them.

Employers who offer CPD not only build staff skills but also improve morale and retention. At Burgh Island Hotel, staff receive training in sustainability practices, helping reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint.

This kind of training demonstrates value to employees personally and professionally, making hospitality jobs more appealing.

Succession Planning in Hospitality Recruitment

Hospitality recruitment in the UK often focuses on filling immediate vacancies, but long-term strategies are equally important. Succession planning, common in other industries and in European hospitality, involves identifying potential leaders and preparing them for senior roles.

For UK businesses, adopting succession planning would make entry-level hospitality jobs more attractive by showing staff that career progression is possible.

Training and Apprenticeships for Hospitality Roles

Formalised training and apprenticeships are proven ways to retain staff. Apprenticeships allow new recruits to gain skills, while training programmes elevate hospitality roles as respected, skilled professions.

The UK could go further by creating a dedicated hospitality education institution, similar to the ESO Euroschool Hotel Academy in Europe. This would attract more young people and career changers into the sector.

Building a Resilient UK Hospitality Sector

Relying on a return of EU workers will not solve the UK’s staffing issues. Instead, the sector needs to import European attitudes towards hospitality work itself: respect, development, and long-term career prospects.

Employers who invest in their staff will not only improve retention but also strengthen their businesses for the future.

FAQs

Why are UK hospitality roles struggling to attract staff?
Brexit, COVID-19, and poor perceptions of hospitality careers have led to widespread staff shortages.

How does Europe view hospitality careers?
Hospitality jobs are considered respected professions with clear progression and development opportunities.

What is succession planning in hospitality?
It means preparing staff for leadership roles, creating a pipeline of future managers and leaders.

How can training help UK hospitality?
Training and apprenticeships improve skills, raise the status of hospitality roles, and increase staff retention.

Work with KSB Recruitment

At KSB Recruitment, we understand the challenges UK hospitality faces. For over 30 years, we’ve been helping businesses find skilled chefs, catering staff, and hospitality professionals.

If you are struggling to recruit, or looking for your next career move in hospitality, our team can help.

📍 Regus Park, Central Boulevard, Blythe Valley Park, Solihull, B90 8AG
📞 0121 828 9840
📧 info@ksbrecruitment.co.uk
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