Petition launched to tackle UK workforce shortage in hospitality

The petition, created by Thiago Luz Togni,​ ​general manager of the soon-to-open Temper in Shoreditch, is asking the Government to create a special visa for people from the EU countries to come to the UK to work in the hospitality industry for a period of up to two years to help the industry cope with the severe shortage of staff.

The visa would be similar to the Seasonal Work visa for horticulture workers, it says, adding that other countries do have visas such as this to support the hospitality sector.

The petition has so received nearly 8,000 signatures, with chefs including Robin Gill lending their support and calling for more people to sign it.

“There is a massive shortage of qualified labour in the UK to fill vacancies that were in many cases previously filled by EU staff,” it states on the petitions website.

“For years people from the EU countries were the backbone of the hospitality industry and many were affected by COVID and subsequently by Brexit's final terms.

“Many restaurants are struggling to find people with experience and willingness to work.”

Job vacancies in the hospitality remain at a record high​​, according to data published last week by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS says that there were 173,000 vacancies recorded in the accommodation and foodservice between May and July 2022.