Recruitment: Where are the good ones hiding?

In this episode, where we discuss effective approaches to navigating the recruitment challenges faced by hospitality, we welcome two guests!

Liz from Whitehead Ross Education talks about their innovative Hospitality Skills Boot Camps, which are designed to get people back into the workforce with leadership skills tailored for the hospitality industry. Liz discusses how these boot camps focus on not only essential hospitality skills but also critical leadership qualities like effective communication, customer service, and team management, helping candidates level up to supervisory roles.

Sam Brown, founder of Candid Hospitality, discusses the talent shortage currently affecting the hospitality industry and the innovative approaches needed to attract, recruit, and retain high-quality employees. Sam shares insights on what’s driving the current recruitment challenges, the importance of a positive candidate experience, and how smaller operators can effectively compete in a tight labour market.

Connect with Whitehead Ross:

https://www.wrecltd.co.uk/

Local restaurants and hospitality businesses are encouraged to reach out via the Whitehead Ross website to connect with new talent and explore opportunities for ongoing collaborations.

Connect with Candid Hospitality:

https://candidhospitality.co.uk/

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In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we discuss how to navigate the slower periods between summer and Christmas, as well as the post-holiday lull in January and February. We share five actionable tips to help boost sales during these quieter months.

Some strategies may already be on your radar, but others might inspire new ideas!

1. Maximise Key Date Promotions Use upcoming events like Halloween, Black Friday, Christmas, New Year, and Valentine’s Day to drive sales. Plan ahead with a calendar, and consider unique dates relevant to your business, such as National Sausage Roll Day or Beaujolais Nouveau. At The Coastal Kitchen Family, we plan our promotional focus quarterly to stay ahead of the curve. For example, our Halloween children's platter became so popular last year that it’s now a tradition.

2. Gift Vouchers for Special Occasions Tap into the gift-giving season by offering beautifully packaged vouchers. Whether it's blank vouchers or specific experiences like “High Tea for Two” or a “Chef’s Table Experience,” creating immersive gift options adds value and appeal. People are increasingly looking for experiences rather than cash gifts.

3. Host Themed Nights Themed events can attract customers during slower times. From Mussels Wednesdays to Oyster Happy Hours, seasonal or niche offerings bring in a crowd. Consider special nights for holidays like Burns Night, which adds a festive atmosphere and benefits both guests and staff.

4. Loyalty Cards Build a returning customer base with loyalty cards, especially crucial when relying on local foot traffic. Be creative with rewards; instead of another free coffee, offer something unique, like breakfast or a takeaway cake, to encourage repeat visits and introduce customers to new menu items.

5. Turnover Tables, Reduce Table Hoggers Prevent low-spend, long-time customers from affecting your bottom line by limiting remote workers who linger for hours. Take inspiration from coffee shops like The Collective and Milk and Bean, which have implemented restrictions on laptop use during peak hours to boost table turnover and enhance the venue's atmosphere.

Tune in for these practical tips to help your business thrive through the quieter seasons!

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• If you enjoy this episode please give us a follow!

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we dive back into the Employment Rights Bill, dubbed the "biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation." These changes are designed to benefit your most important asset—your people. Check out Episode 1 for further insight here. We’re joined by Alice Hosker from Home of HR; an HR consultancy based in Southsea.

Here's what we cover in Part 2:

1. Zero-Hours Contracts
   While exploitative zero-hours contracts will be banned, employers will still have some flexibility. Alice delves into what this actually means for our industry where hours naturally fluctuate seasonally, and how we could look at alternative types of contract. We share tips on how to plan rotas using Workforce Management Software like Rotaready and offer predictable hours, and using Standby shifts.
   
2. Sick Pay
   Under the new rules, statutory sick pay will become a basic day one right. This is another cost to businesses – so we talk about how to reduce absenteeism by creating a supportive work environment and investing in their wellbeing by signing up for an EAP.
   
3. Flexible working / 4 day working week and “Right to switch off”
   Start thinking about what your flexible working policies look like now in preparation for any changes to legislation around this.

Ruth suggests the introduction of the “if you’re gonna be a manager don’t be an arsehole” legislation.
If all these changes pass, they could reshape how hospitality businesses recruit and manage their teams. Tune in to learn how to prepare for these potential reforms and ensure your business stays ahead of the curve.

For more support on navigating these changes, information on the support Alice can offer can be found at www.homeofhr.co.uk, alice@homeofhr.co.uk and 07870 982 593

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• Follow us on Instagram @simply_hospitality_the_podcast

• If you enjoy this episode please give us a follow!