Cardiff hospitality firms join forces to tackle recruitment crisis

FOR Cardiff, Cardiff Hoteliers Association, and Cardiff Council’s Into Work team have joined forces to hold a recruitment fair at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Tuesday 23rd November to help tackle the ongoing recruitment difficulties facing the hospitality sector.

The city’s hospitality industry is currently under increasing strain when it comes to ensuring that bars, restaurants, and hotels are staffed appropriately, with venues working at a minimised capacity.

With 23 hospitality businesses from across the sector attending, including The Park Plaza, Parkgate Hotel, and Bar 44, the event will connect potential employees with a range of career opportunities, which can be applied for on the day via a QR code.

Recruitment experts will also be on hand to give guidance on how to apply for jobs effectively.

Hospitality recruitment is not a problem that is unique to Cardiff however – the whole of the UK is facing a similar crisis. According to a survey of 200 executives across the hospitality industry – one in six vacancies remain open, and 96% of business leaders are experiencing a staff shortage.

Pre-pandemic, the hospitality industry accounted for the employment of 10% of the workforce, contributing around £133.5bn to national gross domestic product.

Adrian Field, Executive Director at FOR Cardiff said: “Staff shortages are the biggest issue in the hospitality sector nationwide. As we approach the busiest time of the year for the industry, we wanted to help our businesses in Cardiff city center find new team members and help raise awareness of the extensive career opportunities available and show the flexibility and range of roles that jobs in the industry can provide.

“By bringing the businesses into one room, we hope to connect potential applicants with a range of roles that could be their next big career move. It’s the perfect opportunity for those who are curious about the new ways of working in the hospitality industry to speak to the experts and apply for jobs with ease.”

In an effort to attract applicants, businesses have reported offering significant increases in salaries, with leisure and hospitality workers getting their biggest pay rise since 2001. On average, hospitality workers saw an increase of 2.8% from the first quarter of 2021 to the second.

Investing in people and being receptive to change is key to the hospitality sector and will allow businesses to grasp new opportunities, according to Patrick Hogan, General Manager of the Clayton Hotel, Cardiff.

He said, “It has never been more important that we continue to invest in and develop people, as there are fantastic careers to be had in the hospitality industry. I am a firm believer that we recruit personality over experience as we must not forget that we are also in the people industry.”

This notion was echoed by Margaret Waters, General Manager at Park Plaza Hotel. She said, “We have found recruitment to be the biggest challenge since we reopened at the end of April this year.

“Our industry offers so much flexibility, diversity, and opportunity. No two days are the same. The recruitment fair is an excellent opportunity to engage with those looking for work, networking with other businesses, and more importantly, fill a few of our vacancies”

Both employers will be attending the recruitment fair on the 23rd of November.

The event takes place between 10 am and 2 pm and is free to attend. Evidence of a Covid pass or a negative lateral flow test was taken within 48 hours of the event is required for entry.