One group of upmarket Isle of Wight pubs have taken an innovative approach to the challenge of getting hospitality staff – They’ve created Employment Charters where they lay out, in black and white, how they pledge to treat employees:
“It lists a number of points that we commit to honour for our staff members to ensure that candidates are clear that a career in hospitality is a great choice.”
Part seven of News OnTheWight’s Deep Dive Series looking into how the national hospitality crisis has impacted the Isle of Wight, speaks to one of those overseeing the scheme.
Driving positivity
The Charters are the brainchild of Martin Bullock and Phil Gilbraith from the Inns of Distinction Group. Phil explained,
“We’re trying to be at the beginning of a movement to drive a bit of positivity.”
Not only are they for use in their four-pub group, but they are hoping other hospitality businesses will either commit to these Charters, or create their own.
The Charters
The two Employment Charters, one for apprentices and the second for all other staff, commit to things like giving “ample time off to relax and recharge each week” through the use of flexible rota systems.
Through the Charter, employers undertake to pay above the National Living and Minimum Wage and restrict working hours per week to 30 for apprentices, and 45 for other staff.
Staff shortages
Since the most recent unlocking and reopening, Inns of Distinction have experienced the same staff shortages as many others in the hospitality industry. Phil explained how they had lost members of staff both front of house and in the kitchen.
The repeating pattern of people moving out the industry (see personal stories from a chef and front of house), or those reluctant to return to it from periods of furlough, has been and issue, said Phil,
“People have got themselves a second jobs, delivery driving or whatever, that they’ve found that’s actually more suited to them than the job they were in.
“Coupled with that, recruitment is extremely difficult as well, so the gaps that have been created we’re finding very difficult to fill.”
Where the idea was born
Inns of Distinction are involved with newly-formed Hospitality Task Force (read more about it here), which first met a couple of weeks ago.
The outcome of the meeting was that positive changes are needed to counter the hospitality crisis and, as Phil explains it, “dispel some of the negative perceptions people hold about the industry”.
Creating positivity for those wanting to enter the industry
Following the Task Force meeting, Martin and Phil set about creating a Charter, outlining what they do and their ethos.
The Charter commits the Group to provide further benefits for their staff and set themselves out as good employers that pay “well above the minimum wage”, and to “create positivity for those wanting to enter the industry”. Phil spelled it out,
“It isn’t all about late nights, long hours, bad working conditions, every weekend, every bank holiday. That’s a misconception of the industry.
“Yes working those times do happen because those are our busiest times, but nobody in our company is expected to work every weekend, every night, every bank holiday.
“For people looking for their first step into hospitality, that’s the stereotype we’re battling against.”
The beginning of an Island-wide hospitality Employment Charter
The group felt it was important to put out there what they do and how they differ from the stereotype and encourage people to start their hospitality journey or return to it with them.
Phil said,
“Most importantly what we’re hoping is that this Charter is the beginning of an Island-wide hospitality employment Charter that likeminded businesses will sign up to.
“We feel the prospect of recruitment in hospitality will be improved by lots of good employers signing up to the Charter.”
Gilbraith: “Hospitality will bounce back”
Asked what else could be done to counter the impact of the hospitality crisis, Phil explained that the long term solution is to encourage more young people into the industry; Encouraging those into the industry that are passionate about it and want to make it their career.
But the short-term solution, Phil said, was things like their Charter.
“Hospitality will bounce back, there won’t will be staffing issues in the future, but in the short term we have to take the steps that we can take.
“We want this be Island-wide initiative. We’re part of a larger Isle of Wight hospitality community and have strong links with other groups and establishments and not looking to do this for our own benefit, we’re looking to improve the lot of the whole industry.
“We’re committed to do that and want other people to join with us in this and help push it forward.”
Inns of Distinction
Inns of Distinction have four venues on the Island, Fishbourne Inn, New Inn (Shalfleet), The Boathouse (Seaview) and The Spinnaker (Bembridge).
At the moment while The Spinnaker is open only for Bed and Breakfast, the company have had to take the decision to temporarily close The New Inn due to problems finding staff.
The Charters are embedded below and set out the commitment that Inns of Distinction make to their staff.
More to come
News OnTheWight has been telling the story of the hospitality crisis from all angles. Up next we’ll have more solutions to help those in the industry provide a seamless service for their customers.
See previous editions and look out for the next part in our Hospitality Deep Dive series.
