Ahead of new employment figures being released tomorrow, Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said:
“Staffing shortages are causing major issues for pubs and other hospitality businesses, with almost half of operators reducing hours throughout the week because they don’t have enough staff. Our sector is already innovating by offering new training opportunities and flexible hours to encourage people into a career in hospitality, but they can’t solve the issue alone.
“The Government must make it easier to recruit and retain staff, for example by allowing greater flexibility in the apprenticeship levy and increasing the number of hospitality qualifications available so young people can be confident our sector provides a long-term career path. As an industry we rely on brilliant people for our businesses to thrive and so we need a forward-looking plan on labour shortages, so they don’t continue to threaten our sector’s viability.”
The BBPA’s comment follows its letter to Conservative Leadership candidates calling for them to convene a summit at the earliest opportunity possible to form a long-term plan for the sector and secure the future of thousands of hospitality businesses across the country.
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Jessie Powell at jpowell@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199
Notes to editors:
About the British Beer & Pub Association
The BBPA represents UK companies which between them brew over 90% of the beer sold in the UK and own 20,000 pubs.
Our members include international companies, national and local brewers and pub businesses operating managed and tenanted pubs in cities, towns and villages across the country.
These businesses are at the heart of communities and local economies and include family businesses who have been brewing beer and running pubs for hundreds of years alongside emerging brewers and pub operators.
- The UK’s beer and pub industry supports close to 940,000 jobs
- The industry adds £26.2billion to the UK’s economy each year
Press release from BBPA.
For further information, please contact Jessie Powell (she/her) via JPowell@beerandpub.com.