What does the future look like for hospitality jobs in the UK?

Dr. Andy Wood OBE DL, Chief Executive at Adnams PLC, tells Bill Banham in our latest podcast about his predictions for jobs in the UK hospitality industry in 2023.

The hospitality industry is one of the biggest sectors in the UK economy, employing some 3 million people, states Andy.

With regards to the pandemic, from 23rd March 2020, hospitality went into lockdown, for much longer than the expected six weeks! 

The hospitality sector is all about serving customers and face-to-face interaction, says Andy. To be unable to carry out those activities for some time, and for the staff to realise that the company they love and work for had more than 50 percent of its revenue vaporised, was a shock.

 

What are some other challenges that companies have recently faced?

Aside from the pandemic, all companies have suffered from The Great Resignation, says Andy. We also saw a significant amount of older workers exit the workforce at the back end of the pandemic.

To combat these challenges, Adnams PLC stuck to the notion of its values and purpose. But they also revisited their employee value proposition and made it their mission to move themselves to be a living wage employer.

 

“IT ALSO BUILDS INTO THE REPUTATION OF ADNAMS AS A CARING EMPLOYER BY BRINGING THESE VALUES TO LIFE, MAKING OUR EMPLOYER BRAND A VERY GOOD ONE.” 

 – Dr. Andy Wood OBE DL.

Their challenge has not been in attracting and retaining frontline employees, outlines Andy. Instead, their challenge has been the poaching of people further up the management hierarchy. Very recently, they were in a bidding war, and, at some point, it was necessary to say ‘enough is enough.’

Andy explains how as a company they strive to be as authentic as they can by bringing their values and sense of community to life.

 

What are Andy’s predictions for hospitality jobs in 2023?

Providing that the UK can take a step forward and meet the wage challenges that are out there, Andy says his predictions are optimistic.

 

A JOB IN HOSPITALITY OFFERS SO MUCH. IT IS VERY MUCH ABOUT TEAM WORKING. IT IS ABOUT DEALING WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND IT IS ALSO ABOUT PROBLEM-SOLVING. AND, HOSPITALITY STILL OFFERS HUGE SOCIAL MOBILITY.”

 – Dr. Andy Wood OBE DL.

How can you encourage your employees to be innovative?

We want our employees to fully engage the massive bio-computer that they have between their ears, says Andy.

He explains why it is important for leaders to trust in their employees so that they can think innovatively and independently.

 

WHILST WE HAVE SOME AMAZING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT, WE ALSO HAVE SOME AMAZING LEADERS. THESE CREATE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS TO INNOVATE, GROW AND SCALE OUR BUSINESS.

 – Dr. Andy Wood OBE DL.

 

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Amelia Brand
Amelia Brand

Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.