Key workers in the hospitality industry have kept the country going during the most challenging time in a generation. And as such, there has been a huge scale redistribution of catering and hospitality staff to support hospitals, care homes and the education sector with the necessary staff levels.
During the pandemic, all shape and size resources have been distributed to where they were needed most. It has been a period where the country has pulled together for a single cause, which has resonated across different sectors.
As the country prepares to return to some semblance of normal, there will be another period of mass movement within the hospitality sector. Those who were deployed to help out in emergency catering situations will now be returning to their commercial catering and hospitality staff roles.
But where does this leave the care industry and the education sector? Is there a real risk of a shortage of catering and hospitality staff in critical roles? Let’s take a closer look.
The Role of Hospitality During the Pandemic
The hospitality sector has played a vital role in the fight against the pandemic.
A recent article published by hospitality news site Shorttermrentalz.com highlighted the arrangements that have been made between the NHS and the UK hospitality sector.
They shared that guest houses, B&Bs, and self-catered accommodation have been called upon to conduct the safe transfer of patients and key workers during the pandemic to reduce the NHS bed shortage crisis. Thousands of patients have been transferred safely out of hospitals and into separate accommodation to stop the NHS from becoming overwhelmed, all thanks to independent hospitality companies.
Additionally, the rules around self-isolation have been another challenge for catering and hospitality teams. Hospitality employers have struggled with staffing levels, as whole teams were having to self-isolate in the event of a single positive test.
These factors combined have meant there had been a lot of staff movement in hospitals, care homes and educational institutions. Emergency staff have been deployed to help out in these critical situations, and hospitality employees who would otherwise have been still on furlough have been glad of the opportunity to work.
However, with the successful vaccine programme underway, the commercial hospitality sector will soon be welcoming back thousands of workers – where does that leave the care and the education sector?
Hospitals and Care Homes – A Catering and Hospitality Staff Crisis?
As reported in the Guardian, last year, the UK hospitality sector furloughed 80% of its staff shortly after the pandemic struck.
And while it has been a long year of waiting, hospitality organisations are now finally able to prepare for their grand re-opening. In a recent survey of over 2,000 Brits conducted by High Speed Training, eating out was named the third top event people are most looking forward to after the pandemic. Business owners are aware of the public‘s appetite for this and are planning to take advantage this summer.
But where does that leave hospitals, care homes and education?
Care homes have struggled with staffing levels throughout the pandemic. Many employees who had previously worked in different catering roles helped out. However, they will now be returning to previous positions.
The government recently provided £269 million of support to the care sector to increase staffing levels. Despite this, many care homes have a battle on their hands to find quality employees. This unprecedented funding means that care homes now have a perfect opportunity to assemble expert, quality teams. If you would like to discuss how we can help you find the catering staff you need for your care home – get in touch with us here.
Locating the Right Catering and Hospitality Staff for the Education Sector
In the education sector, the picture is very similar.
Schools and higher education organisations have been at the centre of some of the highest-profile decisions during the pandemic. As the guidance continually changed, many schools and universities were thrown into repeated lockdowns and periods of self-isolation; getting staffing levels right has been a significant challenge.
As these establishments now look forward to welcoming back students, teachers and the wider staff, avoiding another staffing crisis will be high on their list of priorities.
The simplest way to avoid a staffing crisis is to work with a recruiter to implement a flexible plan for your recruitment. In doing this, you avoid the headache that comes with your organisation’s fluctuating needs; you always have the right level of quality staff as and when you need them.
If you would like to know more about how we can help you formulate a catering staffing plan for your education organisation, get in touch with us today.
Thanks,
Dawn
About KSB Recruitment
We are expert recruiters in the catering and hospitality industry with over 30 years in business, placing the best candidates in their perfect roles with an obsessive attention to detail.
KSB is proud to be a Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) member, accredited investors in people, and both Data Protection and Home Office Compliance registered.
Our catering job agency specialises in roles in Birmingham, Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire.
