The hospitality industry has been impacted by the dual problem of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences of Brexit, which pushed thousands of foreign workers to leave the country.
According to the Office for National Statistics in the three months to June 2023 there were 129,000 vacancies in food and accommodation. It has been reported that there are 38 vacancies for staff to join the catering team at the Houses of Parliament.
A House of Commons spokesperson told The Times: “Our catering venues serve thousands of customers every week, including visitors, MPs and journalists, as well as the staff who keep parliament running through irregular hours. During recess and other lower-demand periods we often reduce opening hours in certain venues or redirect resources where needed.
“Some of our catering venues have temporarily operated with reduced hours or services due to staff shortages — an issue that is seen frequently across the wider hospitality and catering sector. However, the House’s staffing situation has improved in recent months, helped in part by an ongoing recruitment campaign and the effective redistribution of resources where required.”