Britain and Spain share similar problems when it comes to shortages in the Hospitality Industry. Brexit has meant employing Brits in Spain has become more difficult, the Spanish are less keen to work in the industry than they used to be, preferring IT and other modern skills. The UK faces shortages, also because of Brexit as they cannot employ the foreigners that they were used to employing and the Brits again don’t like to work in the industry.

When you do get applicants, the UK reports that half of them don’t turn up for interviews and those that do show a complete lack of professionalism in their approach. “We are not just talking about waiters or chefs,”  said Andy Dempster, an experienced operations director who has been helping with recruitment at a restaurant group in the London area, he added that there was a “breath-taking” lack of courtesy shown by some candidates who failed to turn up to interviews. “When you’re spending time doing interviews with general managers, assistant managers, big positions up to £50,000 salaries you expect a certain level of professionalism. What I’ve found over the last 12 months there is none.”

“People are literally not turning up. You put 45 minutes to an hour aside for interview. I’ve had some where I’ve put the whole day aside for eight potential interviews and only had one person turn up. It’s happening across the board, with all age ranges.”

The number of job vacancies in the hospitality sector reached 174,000 between March and May this year. Around one in seven hospitality jobs remain unfilled, despite 77% of operators increasing pay.

Similarly, here in Spain, where a colleague of mine is looking for good waiting staff. Some don’t turn up, those that do are not qualified nor have the necessary personable skills. He is offering well over the normal salary to get the right people but can’t;  yet I know of three senior managers who cannot get a job at all. It’s not such ‘a funny old world’