Leading hospitality recruiter advises that ‘culture is key’ for growing careers in the sector post-Covid
Marking 5 years of leading recruitment agency Daly Recruitment, high-end hospitality recruitment professional and recently-named Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality Nichola Daly says improving the culture and professionalism in Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry is imperative for building long careers in the industry. As it continues to rebuild post-pandemic, Director Nichola, who herself has 25 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, is working in partnership with the industry to get it back on its feet to begin thriving again.
In late 2022, Daly Recruitment witnessed a huge increase in candidates seeking new opportunities in the New Year citing workplace culture and not feeling valued as the primary reason for exiting their roles. Commenting on workplace culture and professionalism, Nichola Daly said, “Having spent nearly three decades of my life working in the hospitality sector, with the latter years focused on recruitment for luxury hotels and events, it has become apparent that if we get culture and working hours right, the industry will progress. The days of excessive night and weekend hours without equal compensation are well in our past, with many more hospitality workers seeking a better work-life balance and variety of shifts.”
Following the panic to ensure sufficient staffing for venues, Nichola advises that the focus for hospitality in 2023 should be on rebuilding the appeal of the industry through fostering the correct staff culture and improving working conditions. Despite the abundance of high-quality talent across the Island of Ireland, employers are interviewing candidates who are increasingly more selective about the companies they work with, with young people especially showing a greater interest in moving beyond a job and developing a career. If the culture, pay and work-life balance is correct, Nichola advises, then hospitality can offer great opportunities with lifelong career prospects.
Nichola’s belief that young people remain keen to work in hospitality if employers continue to build positive company cultures, explore new ways of scheduling shifts to allow for a work-life balance, and broaden hiring practices to ensure diverse and inclusive workplaces, challenges what she feels is a misconception that exists that young people simply do not want to work in hospitality.
“Employers’ ability to attract and retain team members will have a major overall impact on their business for the years ahead,” she said. “I believe that everyone should operate under the premise that everyone who comes through their doors is either a potential employee or a potential customer and treat them that way. This doesn’t mean you have to offer lavish perks or extortionate rates of pay, but if employers wish to attract professionals, their business needs to act in a professional manner with both current and prospective employees, making it clear that they will be appreciated and valued. As younger generations enter the workforce and those who pivoted careers during the pandemic return to hospitality, expectations of what makes a good employer will continue to change.”
Institute of Hospitality CEO, Robert Richardson FIH MI, said: “Having talked to so many hospitality businesses and IoH members in the past few months, we know resources are stretched and some are at breaking point. This additional pressure on existing team members is having a negative impact on their mental health and service delivery. It is vital that we value the people we have. Providing excellent hospitality services across our industry is what we do. Extending that hospitality ethos of excellence across the IoH, our members, teams and the industry is vital to retain the teams we have.
He continued: “At the IoH we are lucky to have some many inspirational Fellows who mentor younger members and support them throughout their careers. Challenges are inherent but how you deal with them is the defining factor.”
Daly Recruitment offers a relationship-driven, guided approach to matching the right candidates with the best hospitality employers across the UK and Ireland. Working in close collaboration with employers and candidates alike, Nichola offers input regarding potential career paths and salary expectations and makes personal recommendations for roles to pursue for each individual candidate.
For more information on Daly Recruitment visit https://dalyrecruitment.com/