Failure to add hospitality roles to Shortage Occupation List ‘holding sector back reaching full potential’

04-Oct-2023 - Last updated on 04-Oct-2023 at 10:05 GMT

UKHospitality has criticised the decision not to add chef roles to the UK's Shortage Occupation List, saying it ‘demonstrates a lack of understanding and outdated perception’ of hospitality recruitment.

A report by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) failed to recommend hospitality occupations including chefs and restaurant and bar managers be included on the list, which would make it easier for businesses to recruit from overseas, despite impassioned calls from the sector.

However, it did recommend sommeliers with three or more years’ full-time experience be added to the list having accepted a request to reclassify the role so it is distinguished from other front-of-house jobs.

In its conclusions, the MAC said it chose not to recommend adding chefs to the list despite there being evidence for a shortage in this occupation as it believes there has been little progress by the sector to ‘improve the terms and conditions of chefs and enhancing the pipeline of domestic talent’.

In its response, UKHospitality refuted the MAC’s comments, adding that the refusal to add more hospitality roles to the Shortage Occupation List is holding the sector back from reaching its full potential.

“We would strongly refute the Committee’s reasoning behind not recommending chefs to be included on the Shortage Occupation List, which demonstrates a lack of understanding and outdated perception of chef roles in hospitality,” says Kate Nicholls.

“It has ignored the many changes to working practices, including increased pay, better working hours and increased development opportunities since 2020. There is a significant amount of work taking place to recruit and train chefs, but the committee needs to recognise that these initiatives take time to bear fruit.

“The pandemic significantly exacerbated chef shortages by wiping out two years-worth of newly trained chefs and this should have been taken into account. The Shortage Occupation List is specifically designed to bridge gaps caused by a shortage, which is why we’d asked for a temporary addition.

“The Committee’s refusal to add more hospitality roles to the Shortage Occupation List is holding the sector back from reaching its full potential of creating even more jobs and driving economic growth.”

Elsewhere, the MAC also recommended expanding the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) to more countries.

The YMS allows young people aged 18-30 from participating countries or territories to come to the UK for up to two years to work or study without sponsorship.

“Expanding the Youth Mobility Scheme has been a long-standing ask to help the sector recruit and I’m pleased the Migration Advisory Committee continue to make this recommendation,” adds Nicholls.

“It’s imperative that the Government implements this recommendation from its own advisory body, in order to help hospitality businesses recruit. This is particularly important in light of the Committee’s refusal to add chefs to the Shortage Occupation List.”

The Shortage Occupation List sets out the skilled jobs for which there is a short supply of domestic workers and makes it easier to recruit people from abroad.

It does this primarily by reducing the salary threshold under which foreign workers are able to qualify for a skilled worker visa to come to Britain. While the salary threshold is £25,600 at present, roles on the shortage occupation list can be offered at £20,480 or at a 20% discount, whichever is higher. It also reduces the cost for businesses to sponsor a visa for a foreign worker.

Restaurant recently released a free-to-download Staffing Report, which not only identifies the challenges the industry faces but explores the options available to businesses when trying to address these issues. To find out more and to download your own copy of the report, click here.