The Restaurant Staffing Crisis: A UK Perspective

The UK restaurant industry, like many sectors, has faced significant challenges in recent years. It has the largest staff shortfall of all UK sectors and a widening skills gap. The impact of Brexit, coupled with the pandemic and a recent recession, has created a perfect storm, leading to a severe staffing crisis. In this blog post, we will delve into the unique issues facing UK restaurants and explore potential solutions.

Brexit and Its Impact on Restaurant Staffing

Brexit has had a profound impact on the UK restaurant industry. The introduction of the points-based immigration system has made it more difficult for EU citizens to work in the UK. This has led to a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the hospitality sector. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has discouraged many EU workers from seeking employment in the UK. This has further exacerbated the staffing crisis and forced many restaurants to adapt their operations.

The criteria imposed by the government on sponsoring skilled worker, added to the challenges of finding qualified employees in our surrounding countries.

How to Address the Staffing Crisis

Invest in Training and Development:

  • Offer apprenticeships and traineeships to develop a skilled workforce.
  • Provide ongoing training to upskill existing staff. As long as they learn, they are committed to your business.
  • Create clear career paths to motivate employees.

Improve Working Conditions:

  • Offer competitive wages and benefits packages by keeping an eye on the competition.
  • Implement flexible working arrangements to attract and retain staff.
  • Consider fixed days off so the staff can organise their private life well in advance.
  • Create a positive work environment that fosters employee satisfaction. Have regular small events that will celebrate your employees.
  • Use a casual work platform like Coople allowing to not stretch your permanent staff with last minutes illness or activity peaks.
Financials

Leverage Technology:

  • Use modern restaurant management software like Nory to streamline operations and reduce labour costs.
  • Implement self-service kiosks to reduce wait times and free up staff.
  • Employ AI-powered tools for tasks like scheduling and inventory management.
  • Implement an online training program like Mapal.
  • Implement community chat rooms to inform about new products, opportunities and anything that would inform the employees.

Collaborate with Local Communities:

  • Partner with schools and colleges to promote hospitality careers.
  • Work with local job centres to recruit unemployed individuals.
  • Offer job fairs and recruitment events to attract potential candidates.

Advocate for Immigration Reform:

  • Lobby the government for changes to the immigration system to allow easier access to skilled workers.
  • Work with industry bodies to advocate for the needs of the restaurant sector.
Steve Tonkin- Food development- Middle eight

Select the Right Tools to Better Manage Your Workforce

By leveraging the right tools, restaurants can improve their workforce management, reduce labour costs, and enhance the overall employee experience.

  • Restaurant Management Software:
    • Nory: This innovative platform offers a range of features designed to simplify restaurant management, from scheduling and time and attendance to performance management and HR.
    • Toast: A comprehensive restaurant management system that includes features like scheduling, labour management, and time and attendance.
    • Posist: A cloud-based POS and restaurant management system that provides real-time insights into labour costs, sales, and inventory.
  • HR and Payroll Software:
    • Harri: This HR software simplifies tasks like hiring, onboarding, and performance management.
    • Fourth Hospitality: A comprehensive payroll and HR solution that can help you manage payroll, benefits, and taxes.
  • Communication Tools:
    • Slack: A popular communication tool that can be used to keep staff informed and connected.
    • Microsoft Teams: A versatile collaboration tool that can be used for messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing.

By addressing these challenges and implementing effective strategies, UK restaurants can mitigate the impact of Brexit and the staffing crisis.

A well-staffed restaurant creates a vibrant and positive energy, resulting in a successful restaurant, and by prioritising employee welfare and investing in training, restaurants can ensure a sustainable future.

 

Insight Hospitality

June 2025