The Change Group Addresses Industry Skills Crisis
London’s leading hospitality and luxury recruiter The Change Group is going from strength to strength as it expands its operation to meet the demands of its London client base which is struggling with the industry skills shortage.
The Change Group, led by co-founders Craig Allen and Jim O’Brien is keenly aware that as recruiters it has a responsibility to address this shortfall in candidates and is making a number of changes in order to do so.
As a result, the company has relocated its offices to 22 Shand Street in London Bridge and has recently employed six new staff with plans to expand by a further nine by the end of the year, with a focus on resourcers to seek out new candidates.
The expansion of the team is, in part, a response to the growing needs of the capital’s growing hospitality industry which is suffering from a shortfall in talent particularly in chefs (People 1st has estimated that we will need another 11, 000 chefs in the UK by 2022)* In addition, the company is also committed to projects that help to attract and nurture new talent.
The Change Group is partnering with the Beyond Food Foundation– a charitable organisation which aims to create employment opportunities in catering to people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness. The Change Group plans to help by offering apprentices interview skills training, CV writing advice and by facilitating placements through its network of restaurant and catering clients. This year they will also be securing some of their high profile chefs, such as the two Michelin starred chef, Adam Simmonds to take part in the Beyond Food Foundation’s supper clubs to raise much needed funds. In the coming months they will start supporting the Foundation with Front of House roles too.
Greg Harris, Beyond Food Foundation CEO has said:
“We are excited to be working with Change to address the growing shortfall of talent in hospitality by ensuring that those most in need get the opportunity to train and excel with the full support of the hospitality sector. Together we have the opportunity to address a real need with an innovative and proven low cost solution which will genuinely transform the lives of those at risk of homelessness.”
As well as this, they are an approved partner of The Chefs’ Forum and provide catering college students the chance to work alongside industry professionals for career inspiration.
Change co-founder Craig commented:
“The biggest concern of our clients currently is the shortage of talent across the hospitality and luxury sectors and we feel it is our job not only to increase our resources to find the best staff we can, but also to find ways that we can help inspire people at a grassroots level to enter into these professions, which is why we are delighted to support the Beyond Food Foundation and the Chefs Forum.”
*Source: Big Hospitality 20 August 2015
