The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism has put out a call for evidence from businesses and the wider sector about staffing challenges, which it will use to inform its inquiry and subsequently make recommendations to the Government.
There are currently more than 100,000 vacancies across the hospitality sector, and staff shortages have remained a persistent issue for businesses for several years.
Questions that the APPG is looking to answer include whether the hospitality industry has a problem with retention; what are the barriers businesses are facing when it comes to recruitment; how is the industry responding to the Government’s emphasis on encouraging business to utilise UK-born workers; and what can be done to make the sector more appealing to perspective employees.
It will also explore the impact zero-hour contracts has on recruitment; and the success of mental health and wellbeing initiatives such as the Wellbeing Promise and Hoteliers’ Charter.
Simon Jupp MP (East Devon), chair of the Hospitality and Tourism APPG, said: “Staffing challenges in hospitality and tourism has continually been raised by businesses as a persistent problem that negatively impacts trading.
“Given how important the people who work in hospitality and tourism are to the experiences they help deliver, it’s important that the APPG takes the time to investigate this issue.
“I’m pleased to launch this inquiry today and I want businesses and representatives of the sector at its heart, to enable the members of the APPG to understand the issues and make appropriate recommendations to government on where it can support.
“This is a broad inquiry and I hope to hear from as many people involved in hospitality and tourism as possible.”
The deadline for submissions of written evidence is Friday 14 June, and should be no longer than 1,500 words. Evidence should be submitted to policy@ukhospitality.org.uk, which acts as the secretariat of the APPG.
