Hotels closing entire floors, bars closing early and restaurants reducing their table numbers – just some of the impacts of a “desperate” staffing shortage that appears to be getting tougher by the day here in Manchester.
Industry bosses say there are now 3,000 job vacancies across the hospitality sector in Manchester including a range of roles in some of the city’s top hotels, bars and restaurants that are simply not being filled.
That number is set to double in the weeks ahead – as the return of crowds to football matches at both Manchester United and Manchester City later this month means another 3,000 hospitality staff at both Old Trafford and Etihad stadia are in the midst of being recruited as well.
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The huge number of workers needed – across the board from junior to senior staff – is putting incredible pressure on businesses who are having to take tough decisions on how they operate to cope while they continue the urgent hunt for staff.
Industry figures are aiming to start a campaign with local schools and colleges highlighting the career prospects in hospitality, while recent retirees are being encouraged to return to the workforce.
Many businesses are now offering retention payments, bonuses and work perks to incentivise people to stay in a role beyond six months, and wages across the industry are rising as staff are tempted elsewhere by pay rises.
Adrian Ellis, chairman of Manchester Hotelier’s Association and manager of the five star Lowry Hotel, says the situation “caught everybody by surprise”.
Adrian Ellis, chairman of the Manchester Hoteliers Association
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
He said: “There’s now at least 3,000 vacancies in Manchester and it’s across all sectors of hospitality. And it’s affecting different venues in different ways.
“Partly it is the impact of Brexit with Europeans going back home, but the most surprising impact is lifestyle changes through lockdown, with so many people in the industry deciding they’re going to do something completely different – and it’s caught everybody by surprise.
“We’re now working with schools to get people more interested in our industry starting from September, and we’re working with 14 Manchester colleges to get 400 students in for work experience in the autumn as well as 60-80 first year students from Manchester Metropolitan University.
“We’re trying to get retirees back in the industry, and we’ve been working with the Mustard Tree charity with people previously homeless being trained up. We’re trying to be more creative in recruitment campaigns, and we’re trying to recruit in different ways.”
Greater Manchester’s night time economy adviser Sacha Lord, said the staffing issue is now getting “ridiculous”.
Sacha Lord is worried
(Image: Darren Robinson Photography)
He says: “I think the title “Freedom Day” was completely the wrong title – unfortunately the public think everything has moved on and it’s not because hospitality is far from free.
“It’s fire fighting like I’ve never seen before.
“The staffing issue now is ridiculous, it’s not just about the pingdemic, we’re now fully seeing the effects of Brexit and all those people who have lost confidence in the industry they have got other jobs.
“I’m not just talking about waiters and waitresses, it’s security, it’s management, it is really, really tough out there.”
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Sacha added that while it was encouraging to see crowds returning to nightclubs after lockdown restrictions eased on July 19, it was “far from painting the real picture”.
He added: “I know of big, well known bars in the city that are having to reduce tables because they simply haven’t got the staff.
“I’ve not got a smile on my face here.”
Meanwhile Adrian said that he’s aware of hotels looking at closing floors and reducing days to cope with staff shortages.
Adrian Ellis
He said: “Some people are trying to shorten their service without impacting the guest, for example only offering afternoon tea at the weekends, or restaurants opening five days.
“People are having to change their offering, to try and cut services – and if we’re not successful in addressing this soon, there’s a worry that hoteliers might have to shut down whole floors or areas.”
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