A Worcestershire hospitality jobs specialist is warning of a national chef shortage and has urged culinary talent to use their expertise, come forward and help rebuild the industry’s struggling talent pool.
The alert has come from industry expert Kasia Krieger, who says a lack of chefs is putting huge pressure on restaurants, hotels and catering services to maintain high standards with fewer resources.
She said the shortage was also impacting opening hours, menu offerings, and the restaurant and hospitality industry’s ability to innovate.
The chef shortage has been driven by a variety of factors, including post-Brexit worker migration restricting the labour pool, the Covid pandemic-related exodus of staff from the industry, and a decline in people training in the profession due to demanding hours.
Ms Krieger, business manager at catering and hospitality jobs firm Pineapple Recruitment, said; “Several factors have contributed to this national chef shortage over the last few years, hence us seeing a real gap in our future talent pipelines.
“The demand for experienced chefs and new talent alike remains robust. But this is also an opportunity – it’s where talented individuals can come to the fore and help encourage and train the next generation in their skills to keep the creativity and trade alive.
“That could be through channels such as lecturing or part-time support, passing on their knowledge and expertise. It’s an ideal opportunity for those experienced chefs looking to give something back, who are looking at less hours or are planning their retirement.”
Pineapple Recruitment is a specialist recruiter for the hospitality and catering sectors. The agency sources and recruits candidates for clients across professional catering, senior management, and support / administrative roles.
For more information, readers and businesses can visit https://www.pineapple-recruitment.co.uk, or call 0333 070 5981.