The Chef Shortage: what’s to be done about the problem engulfing hospitality?

The Chef Shortage: what’s to be done about the problem engulfing hospitality? By Martin-Christian Kent, executive director, People 1st.  There doesn’t seem to have been a time when we didn’t have a chef shortage, but periodically its impact becomes more intense. We currently seem to be in one of those periods. Back in 2007 People 1st reported that, despite a surge in culinary excellence, UK kitchens were faced with a 6% rise in demand for chefs but a 10% drop in training places at catering colleges. Our latest figures suggest that, currently, 42% of chef vacancies are considered hard-to-fill with the industry needing to recruit an additional 11,000 chefs by 2022. Chef shortages continue to hit the headlines with key figures including Tom Kerridge and Daniel Clifford joining others in sounding a rallying cry for action. The depth of the current crisis has even prompted chef Sat Bains to announce that his eponymous two-Michelin starred restaurant will switch to a four-day week from this November. An innovative and, admittedly, altruistic move that will gift staff an extra 48 days per year with no fall in salary.

>>> Read: Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms to change to a 4-day week

Working as a chef should be a fantastic career option so why are so many people leaving the industry? Is it the long hours and pressure? Pay? Education? Media perception? Or something else. On day three of Hotelympia 2016 at 3pm Wednesday, March 2, we’ll be taking to The Stage with a panel of esteemed experts including managing director of HIT! Training, Jill Whittaker; Neil Rippington of University College Birmingham and Senior Executive Chef Europe for Marriot Hotels, Sean Kelly, to examine the shortage in greater depth. Already there have been some passionate views from across the industry and, as a show visitor, we want you to be part of the audience and part of the discussion. Make sure you keep 3pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 clear in your diaries, as discussions are liable to be frank, open and always insightful. For more information or how to have your say email me at martin-christian.kent@people1st.co.uk

People 1st identifies industry needs across the hospitality, tourism, leisure, travel, passenger transport and retail industries and works in partnership with employers to develop class-leading solutions that increase performance through people. For more information visit: www.people1st.co.uk, call 020 3074 1222 or tweet @p1stgroup