MP meets Minister of Skills over Cumbria’s hospitality workforce crisis

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has met with Minister of State for Skills in the Department for Education, Baroness Jacqui Smith, to discuss the county’s staffing crisis in hospitality and tourism.

It comes as a new study conducted by Cumbria Tourism found that:

• 76% of businesses say recruitment of staff is a problem
• A lack of applicants is a problem for 72% of businesses
• Over half of tourism businesses (58%) say they are struggling to some degree to keep the staff they already have
• Skills shortages remain a problem for 60% of businesses
• Two thirds of businesses say that a lack of staff is limiting their business capacity

• Over half (54%) say that staff shortages are reducing the quality of the visitor experience

   

Tim pressed the minister for new qualifications to equip local young people to enter the hospitality and tourism industry and to have successful careers - especially making the case for the long-awaited T Level in catering.

The minister agreed to speak to the industry about what qualifications they want the department to provide for hospitality, catering and tourism.

Speaking after the meeting, Tim said: “I’m really grateful to the minister for her time.

“Our workforce in the Lakes is too small to keep up with our renowned hospitality and tourism industry. Too many young people feel they need to leave the area when there are great opportunities in businesses here – if they can get the training.

“T Levels would be a good step between leaving school and going on to more advanced vocational qualifications, like the successful degree apprenticeships. 

“This would be a great way to retain young people to live and work locally, and draw in young talent from further afield too. I’m hopeful this will be the encouragement the next generation of our workforce needs to flourish.”