The Recruitment Crisis in UK hospitality
UK hospitality is facing huge staff shortages, exacerbated by both Brexit then the pandemic. It has been disastrous for the sector with the number of vacancies crossing 200,000 and the loss in revenue estimated to be reaching nearly £21 billion. There is a great demand for skilled workers and professionals in this sector, but no candidates to meet this demand, which is a growing concern.
While this is a significant blow to the British economy, causing a £5 billion loss in tax revenue, it has also led to various hotels closing and a rise in mental health issues amongst the existing hospitality workers. With demands of excessive overtime, and multiple managerial responsibilities with no training, the sector is reporting high levels of stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression.
Hospitality leaders and hoteliers have been increasing wages, implementing flexible working and providing access to mental health services; however, these efforts are still being rolled out and the sector is in desperate need of targeted support. Could newly designed leadership academies do just that?
So what are leadership academies?
When it comes to the hospitality sector, leadership academies can provide holistic and wide-spanning training and education to existing staff to upgrade their existing competencies and teach them new skills to undertake higher positions and greater responsibilities. This is not only allowing hotels to maximise their staff’s talent, but also supporting personal development leading to better staff retention thereby mitigating the impact of staff shortages in this sector. While training during onboarding and on the job are not novel concepts to the hospitality sector, the creation of such specialised training to cope with the recruitment crisis is a fresh concept.
Are Leadership Academies Helping?
They seem to be! In the UK, The Eden Hotel Collection’s brand-new Thrive Academy has been training its staff via immersive projects, in-person workshops and educational lectures to prepare them for managerial roles and promotions. The leadership academy offers training in relevant areas of leadership, effective management, communication, employment law, health and safety, marketing, recruitment and personal development over a 12-month course. Such training supports offering staff a meaningful career in the sector as opposed to perceptions of the sector as being overworked and underpaid. The Eden Hotel Collection is an award-winning hotelier with unique boutique hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham, Leamington Spa and Devon.
The Future of the Hospitality Crisis
If hotels across the UK follow the example set by Eden Hotels and their Thrive Academy, the recruitment crisis could be gradually alleviated. Investing in training and upgradation of existing talent will not only be profitable but also produce an extremely competent, satisfied and loyal workforce delivering brilliant customer experiences.
Over the years we have carefully refined, improved, and enhanced hotel management software. This is based on feedback from customers which is what makes it so sophisticated and yet remarkably easy to use.
To find out more about Rezontrol, our hospitality operating system, and how it can provide your staff with a more efficient and effective way to run your hotel feel free to book an online demonstration and let us show you that the proof is in the product.
Alternatively, please contact the sales team on 0330 223 1456 or email sales@avondata.co.uk.