Nottingham is a sociable city, with a vibrant visitor and night-time economy and world-class attractions. At the heart of this is Nottingham’s hospitality sector, which makes a major contribution to economic stability, and employment in the city.
The value of the tourism sector in Nottinghamshire in 2019, including hospitality, was £1.979bn (with Nottingham city contributing £679.02m). The sector supported 23,179 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs (7,741 of these being in Nottingham city). Source – 2019 STEAM report.
Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, Nottingham City Council and partners have supported and engaged with a wide cross section of hospitality businesses, from small cafes to high-end restaurants. They have told us firsthand that their willingness and resolve to reopen, despite the challenges of 2020, is not in doubt, but many report that staff shortages will prevent them from reopening at normal capacity.
“It has been hard finding talented people during the pandemic especially because the industry has struggled to open, lots of people have changed careers. Friends of ours have taken courses in becoming trades people, NHS, electricians, that sort of thing, which they see as more reliable careers, purely because hospitality could be an unreliable place to work currently.”
Lauren Nally and Ritchie Stainsby, No. Twelve Restaurant, Eldon Chambers, Nottingham.
This is a situation which affects many areas in the UK and is not exclusive to Nottingham. Whilst presenting significant challenges to businesses in the city, many have been able to sustain and, in some cases, grow their businesses, by managing staff and customer safety, changing their offer to customers, for example by offering takeaway services, outdoor seating or click and collect. The message to job seekers is therefore that the industry has found ways to protect itself during the pandemic, making it an industry that can offer reliable employment and real career potential.
About the campaign:
The #HospitalityWorks social media campaign will promote job vacancies in hospitality and information about the benefits of hospitality careers, including:
- The wide range of jobs currently available
- Employer and employee comments on what they love about the industry
- The types of skills employers are looking for
- How to apply or train for a job in hospitality with Nottingham Jobs and partners
- Work experience opportunities
- Courses at Nottingham College
Supporting local businesses to reopen safely is a key part of the campaign which will shine a light on the wide range of great employers in the city. Equally important is the message to job seekers, especially those who might never have thought about a career in hospitality, that hospitality businesses are recruiting now.
Throughout the campaign, which will run during summer 2021, job seekers and anyone interested in hospitality careers or training for roles including administration, bar work, reception, management, security as well as kitchen and domestic jobs, are encouraged to follow Nottingham Jobs on social media and to visit www.nottinghamjobs.com/hospitalityworksto find out more about current vacancies and the support and training also available.
Look out for #HospitalityWorks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Nottingham Jobs advisers are standing by to speak to Nottingham residents who need a bit of advice about the roles available and provide 1-1 support to people of all ages. To find out more, call the team on 0115 876 4508.
The skills and experience employers are looking for:
There are many kinds of hospitality job, and employers are looking for people with a wide range of skills and experience. Many jobs do require training or experience of working in the sector before, but the most important things employers look for are passion, enthusiasm, and an ability to work well with customers and as a team.
Employers tell us that it can be demanding work, but it is extremely rewarding working as part of a dedicated team and their employees get lots of satisfaction from doing the job well.
Ritchie Stainsby, No. Twelve Restaurant adds; “Nobody is just a number, nobody feels like that here, even things like how we process our tips, we literally split it for everybody who’s worked that shift, everyone gets an even portion whether you’re washing pots, whether you’re the head chef, the experienced cocktail bar tender, or you come in and you clean the restaurant at the end of the night. Everyone has played a part in that service.
“Whether our customers have had great service on the floor, or they’re looking at a great plate of food, somebody’s cleaned the plates, somebody’s polished that cutlery, everybody’s played their part and I think for us it really is a family, both here and in other hospitality jobs I’ve had.
“It’s so close knit, everyone knows each other so in depth because, well we work ninety hours a week, but it’s such a fun and enjoyable job, you do get satisfaction, you feel exhausted at the end of it but it’s just so worth it.”
Ehsan Shammasizadeh, Wolf Italian Street Food & Code34 Cocktail Bar says; “For me, what I like about it, you always tend to meet new people, it’s never the same every day, there’s something new, like meeting new customers. Even the challenges we face, it’s not always rosy and nice, we have challenges, but despite the fact that they create frustrations sometimes, at the end of the day it’s part of the whole, you end the day thinking it was tough, but we’ve learned something.
“We feel like a big family, at the same time it’s business, at the end of the day the numbers matter, however the interactions we have, that’s definitely helping to retain them; because the competition is high, we’ve got some wonderful team members, and the guys enjoy working in this space, they feel home when they come in.”
If you’ve worked in any job before where you’ve had to give excellent customer service; like retail or a frontline role, you might already have what it takes to move into a hospitality career.
Key skills for hospitality roles, which can be gained in many other ways, include verbal and written communication, multitasking, time management, teamwork, attention to detail as well as administration and support skills.
Roles in the hospitality sector may also appeal to people who are looking for flexible working hours, due to childcare or other responsibilities, or people with disabilities, who are looking to work as part of a supportive team.
What to do if you’re interested in a hospitality career:
Visit www.nottinghamjobs.com/hospitalityworks or the Find a Job section at the top of Nottingham Jobs home page and search for ‘hospitality’ in the sectors box. To apply for jobs or ask for support, register with Nottingham Jobs to chat to a member of the team. You can also call Nottingham Jobs on 0115 876 4508 (lines are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm).
Partners, National Careers Service and Futures are also running workshops for people interested in hospitality careers, starting on Tuesday 3 August from 1 to 2:15pm. These sessions are aimed at adults aged 19 who are looking for advice about roles and career opportunities within the sector including help to identify individual skills, qualities and experiences that are valued in the hospitality sector. More details.
The campaign is led by Nottingham City Council’s Employment & Skills service, Nottingham Jobs and their partners including Futures and the Department for Work & Pensions, plus key, influential partners, Visit Nottinghamshire, Nottingham Hospitality Association and Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID). Additional support for the campaign comes from leading skills and support providers, Nottingham College, and National Careers Service, and Nottingham Express Transit (NET) who recognise the importance of public transport to people attending interviews and getting to work.
Councillor Rebecca Langton, Portfolio Holder for Skills, Growth and Economic Development, says; “The hospitality industry in Nottingham is an essential part of the local economy, providing thousands of jobs for local people, sustaining local businesses, many of which are independent and locally owned, and creating safe and welcoming places for locals and visitors to socialise.
“We’ve seen the sector hit very hard by the pandemic; it is ready to bounce back now that restrictions are being lifted, but to do that there is a real need for it to attract more people to work in the city’s cafes, bars, hotels and restaurants. Central to this is the work of Nottingham Jobs and its partners, who are committed to promoting opportunities and offering training and support to people who are keen to start their careers in hospitality.
“Nottingham City Council is proud to have supported many businesses across the city since March 2020, but we recognise that right now it is the hospitality sector which needs our backing, to enable it to continue to play its part in the vibrancy of our city and continue to create attractive and sustainable jobs for residents who are looking for work.”
Kinga Kapias, Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Nottinghamshire, said; “Nottingham’s hospitality businesses have faced extraordinary challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, and have shown remarkable resilience and innovation in order to continue operating safely and in many cases to expand and diversify their businesses.
“However, the hospitality sector is currently suffering from staff shortages – a national problem, not unique to Nottingham – which presents a challenging situation for the businesses but means that a number of opportunities have arisen for job seekers and those who might not have previously considered a career in hospitality.
“We are delighted to be supporting this campaign, which aims to shine a light on the diverse range of careers which are possible in the hospitality sector as well as the benefits and the valuable skills and experience that can be gained in this industry, in order to attract new talent and encourage more people to consider a career in this exciting sector.”
Rob Watts, Director of Nottingham Hospitality Association said; “The hospitality sector is in the midst of a major crisis. In all my years of working in hospitality, I have never seen such acute recruitment shortages as we are seeing today. The impact of COVID, combined with Brexit, has resulted in a scarcity of candidates across all departments. Many venues, as a result, are struggling to operate all aspects of their business and are having to reduce either their product offering or opening hours.
“What most people don’t realise is that hospitality can offers a wide range of opportunities, covering operational management, sales and marketing, HR, front of house, accountancy and revenue management as well as food and drink service and housekeeping. Statistically, and with hard work and commitment, it is one of the best industries for fast progression to senior management and a lucrative career, and the skills are very transferrable to other sectors with many prospects for national and international relocation.
“It is vital that we all come together to address this issue, to look at opportunities for retraining and recruitment, if our hospitality sector is to survive and thrive.”
Richard Johal, a director of Nottingham BID and owner of St James’s Hotel commented; “Nottingham BID is delighted to be supporting this important and welcome campaign. There are a whole host of jobs that need filling to suit a range of passions and interests and right now many businesses in the city are struggling to recruit a full workforce, resulting in scaled back services. Hospitality is all about people and that starts with a talented and skilled team.”
Phil Tomlinson, Faculty Area Manager for Catering & Hospitality, Travel, Tourism & Aviation at Nottingham College, added; “We are proud to train our students in excellent, industry-standard kitchens as well as in the a la carte Fletchers Restaurant, where they are able to develop the behaviours, skills and knowledge that our many industry partners want to see in prospective employees.”
Supporting partner, Nottingham Express Transit added; “We understand the impact that the pandemic has had on the hospitality industry in Nottingham and it is important to us as a public transport operator that we play our part in its economic recovery.
“Our trams run regularly to the city centre and the wider Nottingham area, which means that many employers and training centres are within easy reach for job seekers attending interviews, gaining new skills or, we hope, getting to their new jobs in hospitality. The tram continues to provide a safe, reliable, convenient and green mode of transport to all major destinations within the city with different ticket options available on our easy to use app NETGO!”
Job seekers of all ages are encouraged to follow Nottingham Jobs on Facebook – @mynottinghamjobs– where current vacancies and details of how to apply will be shared regularly using the #HospitalityWorks hashtag.
Information about the campaign can also be found at https://www.nottinghamjobs.com/hospitalityworks
Posted on 21 July 2021
