The Secret Ingredient: our initiative to support hospitality staff

It is no secret that hospitality has been hit hard by the pandemic. In the past year, 350,000 jobs have been lost within the industry, accounting for a staggering 43% of the jobs lost across the UK. 

However, it’s not just those who have lost their jobs that are struggling. Experiencing a different problem are the staff who are returning to cafes, pubs and restaurants as they reopen, having been out of the workplace for almost a year. There have been widespread reports of nerves and anxiety at the prospect of returning, as well as concerns from bosses that staff will be out of practice and may take time to get their skills back to pre-COVID levels. 

And so, amongst all the excitement that has come with reopening, it is important not to forget the people who make it all happen. 

Hospitality workers are the beating heart of our industry and we want to support them. That is why we’re launching The Secret Ingredient, a scheme to provide support to hospitality workers in whatever way we can. 

Over the next few months, we’ll be launching initiatives to assist, advise, and put a smile on the faces of hospitality workers. 

Next week, we’re launching The Big Hospitality CV Share. Hospitality workers who make up part of the 355,000 who lost their jobs over the last year can upload their CV to a database, which we will then share with our network of businesses in an effort to aid those looking for work. 

In the run up to May 17th we’ll be doing 7 days of giveaways for hospitality workers, with prizes that are designed to help staff relax and unwind in the face of the busy working days that lay ahead. The grand prize, to be drawn on May 16th is a luxury spa weekend for two!

To celebrate the return of indoor hospitality, we’re launching Tip Jar Top Up – for every Stint that is completed from 17th May to 31st May, we’re going to donate £1 to the staff tip jar. Tips make up a big portion of staff wages, and given that it’s been almost impossible to make any tips over the last year, we want to give the tip jar an extra boost as hospitality opens up once again. 

We’re even launching a fund to sponsor training for hospitality workers to help them upskill and become even more valuable members of staff. 

And that’s just the beginning… We are committed to continuing to provide support for hospitality workers and we will be announcing many more initiatives in the coming months.