The hospitality industry is walking into a skills and staffing crisis that it has never seen before, a famous TV presenter and food and drink expert has warned.
Fred Sirieix, popular host of Channel 4’s First Dates and Snackmasters and one of the stars of Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip, has spoken out about hospitality training, saying that there is no “common vision or strategy” to sort out the “crisis”.
On Saturday, he tweeted: “On the one hand, it’s great anyone can walk into a restaurant/hotel/bar, etc... with no experience whatsoever and get a job. On the other hand, however, it shows how far we have to go to not only promote #hospitality as a career but also ensure the right educational pathway and funding for catering colleges exist.
“It is vital we educate and upskill UK homegrown talents. The industry is walking straight into a skills and staff crisis unseen before. Sadly, we have no common vision or strategy to sort this out.”
He added: “What we need is a coalition of the willing. Professionals, education specialists, the Treasury and education departments working together forwards a common goal. That is the only way.”
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On the one hand it’s great anyone can walk into a restaurant/hotel/bar etc... with no experience whatsoever and get a job. On the other hand however it shows how far we have to go to not only promote #hospitality as a career but also ensure the right educational pathway 1/2
- Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) May 8, 2021
On the one hand it’s great anyone can walk into a restaurant/hotel/bar etc... with no experience whatsoever and get a job. On the other hand however it shows how far we have to go to not only promote #hospitality as a career but also ensure the right educational pathway 1/2
- Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) May 8, 2021
What we need is a coalition of the willing. Professionals, education specialists, the treasury and education departments working together forwards a common goal. That is the only way.
- Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) May 8, 2021
The impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry has been well-documented over the past 12 months, and, according to those who responded to Mr Sirieix, this has filtered down to colleges.
First Dates’ Fred Sirieix worried about the closure of catering colleges
James Brooke, a chef at Coventry College, said: “Two colleges in the West Midlands are due to close their catering provision by the summer. Unfortunately, the one I work for is one of them. At one point it was one of the biggest catering colleges in the country, now reduced to nothing.”
Mr Sireix tweeted: “If catering colleges keep on closing at this rate, what chance do we have to inspire/train/educate home-grown talents and solve the skills and staff shortage? #hospitality.”
Others responded to Mr Sireix’s tweet, also raising concerns about colleges closing catering departments.
You need to move quickly while we still have college courses, colleges are closing catering departments I’ve heard of another one going this summer!!
- Don Mckenzie (@rokerman57) May 8, 2021
My son was due to sit his Nat 5 hospitality this year but due to pandemic they got zero time of this course. Such a shame as so may skills were there to be gotten.
- Angie-W (@angie_wat8) May 8, 2021
The biggest problem facing this is the incredibly stupid artificial and snobbish distinction in the Department for Education between ‘academic’ and ‘vocational’ qualifications. The Eton-Oxbridge sneering at the vocational route limits the opportunities of so many students.
- Bruce Horton (@BruceHorton1) May 8, 2021
I agree 100% - there are some amazing training options out there but such reluctance to fund it or support it properly - hospitality is an incredible industry to work in, we need to promote how highly skilled those in the industry really are - from FOH to chefs to publicans
- Rachel Webster (@Rach_Wine_Geek) May 8, 2021
