More needs to be done to encourage young people into the hospitality and catering sector to combat a shortage of workers, according to sector specialist Berkeley Scott Group.

Emmy Watt, marketing executive, tells Recruiter: "We need to counteract the bad image of low pay in the industry. People do not understand that although starting salaries are low, there is a very fast career progression in the industry, and therefore wages can rise very quickly in the sector.

"And there needs to be more training available," she adds.

Watt says it is difficult for the company to help bring youngsters into the industry directly. "Client companies won't pay us to recruit young people because they receive those applications directly, so instead we support the industry's trade bodies which are working to tackle the problem."

However, the firm financially supports the work of the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and charitable trust Springboard.

A spokesman for the BHA says: "Companies are being forced to recruit from overseas especially from Eastern Europe. The problem is not just the perception of low pay, but also of long hours and hard work. We have to persuade young people that the industry can provide a very satisfying career."

Gareth Edwards, operation director from Springboard told Recruiter that the company is currently holding a three-week summer school for 15 to 19-year-olds, which provides training, paid work experience and three recognised qualifications.

Springboard also runs taster days and a young managers programme for people on A-level or vocational courses.

 

AGENCY HIRED TO UP THE PROFILE Godalming-based Berkeley Scott floated on the Alternative Investment Market in 2004 and has an annual turnover of £17m. Watt says it will also be working on its marketing strategy. The recruiter has recently hired an external agency to improve its profile. "People working in the industry know the Berkeley Scott name but they don't know much about us. They don't know about our size and scale."