The job board, which has seen demand for relevant candidates from hotel, pub, bar, restaurant, catering and leisure employers surge in weeks, has launched a new campaign to draw new talent into the industry. 

This industry-first initiative provides hospitality employers zero cost job board advertising for any hospitality apprenticeship across the UK. *In April, vacancies in UK hospitality soared 77% from the previous month. But, as candidates return to their home countries following Brexit and the global pandemic, hospitality is facing an industry-wide skills shortage for all levels of job roles. As hospitality businesses continue to re-open, the requirement for employees grows. A lack of available staff creates a bleak domino effect on hospitality businesses as venues can’t operate without staff. The goal of this campaign is to reduce the skills gap by showcasing hospitality as a great place to work with excellent career development opportunities. It will help recruit new talent with a passion for the hospitality industry, willing to train and learn new skills. The campaign, entitled Apprentices Now!, is available for all hospitality employers to take advantage of with immediate effect. 

This initiative sits alongside HJUK’s portfolio of campaigns to encourage new talent into the industry, including actively speaking at conferences and events, supporting industry trading bodies, promoting the work of its charity partners, financial contributions and shares specialist recruitment advice across a variety of media platforms and interviews. 

Commenting about Apprentices Now!, Dawn Redman, Founder and Co-Director of Hospitality Jobs UK, said; “The last year has been incredibly tough on everyone, we’ve all been through it together. As a supplier to the industry, it’s our responsibility to continue this journey together, doing everything we can to support our fabulous industry. By utilising our multiple platforms, Apprentices Now! will ensure HJUK becomes the go-to job board for apprentices, whilst supporting companies by advertising their apprenticeship roles at zero cost. There simply is no better time to roll out this initiative and we are so proud to support the industry any way we can.” 

Paul James, Head of Sales, Hospitality Jobs UK, said; “I’m speaking to hospitality employers on a daily basis, and I am hearing more and more about the increased need for skilled employees, across all sectors. The pool of talent is getting smaller. Apprentices Now! enables us to help our clients by the facing the issue head on and taking matters into our own hands. It’s a pretty bold initiative given we are offering our platform at no cost, but doing it means we will help attract additional candidates into the industry which enables companies to confidently grow in the future. That is priceless.”