Only A Pavement Away tackles staffing crisis

Only A Pavement Away, the hospitality industry charity that assists prision leavers, veterans and those facing homelessness into employment, has laid out plans to support the industry in tackling the workforce crisis. 

Backed by vital funds, Only A Pavement Away can place hundreds more people facing hardship into meaningful roles within hospitality. 

Last month, UKHospitality revealed that the job gap in the sector currently stands at 174,000, with nearly half (45%) of all operators having to cut their service hours or F&B offering, causing grave concern for the sector. 

The charity itself was established in 2018 by Greg and Gill Mangham. Its employment programme is delivered collaboratively with hospitality employers, referral charity partners and individuals who have experienced or are facing homelessness, prison leavers or vulnerable veterans. It facilitates training and development, as well as offering additional financial support to those who need it to overcome any barriers to employment, thus tackling some of the staffing and skills shortages currently impacting the industry. 

Founder and CEO Greg Mangham comments: "After two years of disrupted trading, it is so frustrating to witness the staffing crisis now constraining the recovery of the industry I have dedicated most of my working life to. Meanwhile, the number of people facing homelessness in the UK has risen by 50% over the last five years. Both of these issues are unacceptable and Only A Pavement Away is determined to help.

"Over 100 hospitality operators, including many of the UK's biggest operators, already use Only A Pavement Away to recruit new talent. The Only A Pavement Away bespoke hospitality Jobs Board – which is free of charge – has been developed to help streamline and alleviate the burden of the processes that employers go through in employing people who are struggling to reconnect with society."

The charity is seeking hospitality partners interested in supporting the programme. Only A Pavement Away is committed to helping 1,000 people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans develop life skills, become job ready and provide them with a direct route to employment by 2027. For more information, visit onlyapavementaway.co.uk.

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