Staffing struggles - tackling the challenges around employment
People are key to hospitality, but employment has never been more expensive or challenging. The Lock In podcast team takes a deep dive into some of the issues the sector is facing.
Staffing
Behind bars - is prison the answer to the pub employment challenge?
The Lock In gets locked in as we go behind bars to investigate the opportunties the hospitality sector offers to rehabilitate offenders.
Employment levels in the sector rise as cost pressures mount
Staffing levels in the hospitality sector have risen for the first time in almost six months, but operators are likely to “apply to brakes” on recruitment ahead of the autumn Budget, experts have warned.
World Mental Health Day: pubs unite to support wellbeing
As the industry marks World Mental Health Day today (10 October 2025), pub operators across the UK are taking action to highlight mental health awareness and promote staff wellbeing across the sectors.
Sector job losses predicted to hit ’devastating landmark’ of 111,000 by Budget
A prediction that 111,000 jobs will be lost in hospitality by the Budget in two months’ time has been described as a “devastating landmark”.
Sector accounts for more than half of all UK job losses since Budget
Hospitality has been ‘hardest hit by regressive tax hikes’, accounting for half of job losses since October Budget, according to one trade body.
ANALYSIS: To tip or not to tip, that is the question...
The decision by a pub company to add an automatic tip to ordering drinks at the bar in some of its sites has thrown the cat among the pigeons and reignited the service charge debate.
Single wage rate proposal ‘nightmare for employers’ as Gov accused of ‘losing the plot’
Independent operators have voiced their outrage on how Government proposals for a single wage rate for adults would negatively impact their businesses.
25% drop in summer job postings ‘red flag for economy’
Recent figures have found job postings this year have dropped against 2024, sparking concerns it marks “the death of the great British summer job”.
Hospitality now accounts for almost half of UK job losses
The hospitality sector accounts for almost half (45%) of all job losses across the UK, making it one of the hardest hit sectors since the budget, new data has revealed.
Diageo CEO steps down
Diageo CEO Debra Crew has stepped down with immediate effect by “mutual agreement”.
Joe Grossmann to launch second London pub
Patty & Bun and The Waterman’s Arms founder Joe Grossmann is to take on well-known Soho pub The Shaston Arms.
Pub companies among Gov’s top apprenticeship employers
Employers across the country have been recognised by the Government for their outstanding commitment to apprenticeships.
EXCLUSIVE: New BII chair revealed
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has announced its new chair elect who will take over from Mark Robson later this year.
Employment Rights Bill changes ‘will force firms to rethink recruitment strategies’
Changes to the Employment Rights Bill will have ‘considerable impact on how hospitality businesses operate’, one expert has warned.
Gov reveals plans to tighten tipping laws and end ‘exploitative’ use of zero hours contracts
The Government has unveiled its plans to tighten tipping laws and ‘end the exploitative use of zero hours contracts’ as it revealed its Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap.
Supporters back BBPA’s diversity and inclusion charter
A wide range of supporter organisations have backed the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA) diversity and inclusion charter on its third anniversary.
Job vacancies fall as job losses continue
The number of vacancies in accommodation and food service are continuing to fall, the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed.
UKH calls for Gov to support hospitality training
UKHospitality (UKH) has called on the Government to consider the hospitality industry as part of its plans to help young people into work.
Hospitality training scheme ‘significant’ step for sector
New Government-backed hospitality training programmes mark a “significant advancement” for the sector, UKHospitality (UKH) has said.
JDW ‘one of Europe’s best employers’
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has been named among ‘Europe’s best employers’ for 2025 in a new report from the Financial Times and Statista.
Boxpark appoints first chief growth officer
Boxpark has announced the appointment of its first chief growth officer (CGO).
BII on the hunt for new chair
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has announced it is looking for a new chair.
Job vacancies in food service and accommodation fall
The number of vacancies in the food service and accommodation sector fell by 21.5%, the equivalent of 23,000 jobs between January to March 2024, compared to the same period in 2025.
9 things that annoy bar staff
Not making decisions and ordering certain drinks last are just a couple of ways customers can frustrate bar staff.
Easier access to funding needed to tackle recruitment challenges
Easier access to funding would help operators change perceptions of hospitality as a career while helping to tackle recruitment challenges.
THE PUB EMPLOYMENT REPORT
FREE ACCESS is available now to The Pub Employment Report
The Pub Employment Report from The Morning Advertiser is here, it’s absolutely free to access and it’s all yours – right now.
80% of pub chiefs forced to axe recruitment plans
Pub industry leaders have revealed their plans of employing more staff have been scuppered in an exclusive survey by The Morning Advertiser.
OPINON: Employment praise a mockery in face of Budget
Listening to the employment minister this week tell a hospitality conference that the sector was “crucial” to the Government’s plans to boost employment and the economy felt like I’d entered some kind of surreal parody reality.
Hospitality ‘crucial’ to Gov’s employment plans
Hospitality is “crucial” to the Government mission to boost employment and the economy, the employment minister has told the sector.
Hospitality-specific training schemes to be launched
The Government-backed hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) will roll out to 26 new areas.
UKH pleased with key changes to apprenticeships
Key changes to the way apprenticeships work in hospitality – suggested by UKHospitality – have been given the go-ahead by the Government.
LTC champions neurodiversity in hospitality
The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has launched a new employment guide titled ‘Empowering Neurodiversity in the Workplace’.
Unions warn of strikes at Bidfood after ‘attacks’ on pay and working conditions
Bidfood has refuted claims it “attacked pay and working conditions”, but industry unions warned strike action was “probable”.
Pub companies recognised as ‘top employers’
Three pub companies have been recognised as ‘top employers’ in the UK by a globally recognised certification programme.
OPINION
OPINION: Using staff to drive sales and enhance customer experience
As operators navigate today’s challenging environment, further compounded by the loss of almost 16,000 on-trade sites since March 2020[1], it has never been so important for outlets to use every tool in their armoury to drive sales through the till.
HIT Training unveils new apprenticeship programme
Hospitality and catering training provider HIT Training has introduced a new tailored Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship.
Valiant appoints new managing director of operations
Valiant Pub Company has appointed Andy Parker as its new managing director of operations.
Four-day work week could ‘improve mental health’ for hospitality workers
A four-day working week could hugely benefit hospitality workers, according to 4-Day Week Campaign director Joe Ryle.
The Lock In Podcast
Bar room betrayal: How to avoid falling for fraud and theft
BBPA warns extra costs could stop pubs employing new staff
Pubs employ more than 350,000 people aged under 25 but may be forced to halt further recruitment or push up prices, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned.
Wage inflation shows 'pressure' on margins
Wage inflation in Q3 2024 demonstrated “pronounced pressure” on margins while a drop in vacancies showed “shoots of recovery”.
Asahi UK first to put whole commercial team through WSET beer qualification
Asahi UK, which operates Fuller’s, Meantime and Dark Star brewing, has become the first business to put its entire commercial team through WSET beer training.
Burnt Chef reports reveals boost in numbers using services
The Burnt Chef Project’s Social Impact Report 2023-24 has revealed a surge in people using its services and a plea to help with further funding.
Hospitality Action introduce new workplace wellbeing guide
Hospitality-based charity organisation, Hospitality Action has recently introduced a new guide centred around improving wellbeing in the workforce.
Staff shortages 'a perennial problem since Brexit'
Operators have shared their thoughts on staffing after official data found hospitality vacancies fell to below pre-pandemic levels.
Vacancies drop to under 100k
The number of job vacancies in the food service and accommodation sector has fallen to below 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic, according to official figures.
Vacancies downward trend ‘positive but more needs to be done'
The number of job vacancies in the hospitality sector has dropped to 100,000, according to official figures.
1 in 5 consumers never pay service charge
More than a fifth of restaurant and bargoers never pay the optional service charge, research has revealed.
Unis call on Gov to back high level apprenticeships for hospitality
Some of the leading universities across the UK are urging the Government to back hospitality to help unlock talent for the future with degree level apprenticeships