Martin, I did say in my post that staffing may have been an issueMartin R wrote: ↑Tue Sep 14, 2021 4:01 pm Colin, virtually every hospitality business in England, possibly the UK, is suffering from a lack of workers.
It's been widely publicised in the news and, I have personal experience of the difficulties restaurants are having recruiting staff post-lockdown. Hotels are in the same boat.
Many workers moved into different roles in other industries, rather than sit at home, not sure they'd have a job or if the restaurant they worked for will even ever re-open. Many haven't.
Some foreign workers moved back to their home country during lockdown to be with families, in part as many live-in pubs, which were closed, meant they lost their accomodation when the pub shut.
Some of those workers will never come back. Some may not have the relevant paperwork to live & work in the UK now.
A lot of products and produce comes from across the UK and far beyond. There is a huge shortage of lorry drivers, again very well publicised everywhere. Many supermarkets have large gaps on their shelves where they haven't received deliveries. Maybe the ones near you aren't affected?
You appear to be unaware of this current well publicised situation.
The number of rooms for the JOC weekend was actually reduced from normal levels to help to alleviate staff pressures / shortages.
Having said all of that, I personally never had to wait long at the bar, breakfast went well (cold plates on Sat / Sunday aside) and the food was "OK" for the mass catering.
It's rarely if ever "good".
Compared to some previous JOC weekends, where I recall waiting outrageous times for beverages or service, this one was comparatively superb.
If you believe the figures for the lorry drivers shortage your believe anything, I had an email from Chris a couple of days ago on this subject. This was from a radio 4 programme. I'm sure he will not mind me sharing.
Where did the 100,000 number come from?
Apparently, according to the Road Hauliers Association, there was a 60,000 shortage in 2015. That was before Brexit and the Pandemic so we have to ask what did they do about it in the last 5 years before we left the EU?
Then in 2020 due to the pandemic there was 25,000 less HGV tests taken. So they have simply added that number to their previous 60,000 “shortage” assuming that everyone who takes an HGV test is taking it to work as a lorry driver. So now we have an 85,000 “shortage”.
The ONS (Office of National Statistics) estimates there were 15,000 fewer EU lorry drivers working in the UK in this year than there were in 2019. That now adds up to the 100,000 figure.
And the RHA can’t really explain their original 60,000 figure properly.
The figures do not add up
I am very aware of the current situation,, but there are how many unemployed in this country?
And quite rightly the government shut down a LTD loophole, because a lot of foreign drivers was not paying tax and this was shut down before the pandemic
In the 25 years I was driving Lorries there has always been a shortage and until the conditions and pay improve there's always going to be one.
Lorry driving is the only job where you can be sent to prison for just doing your job.
many went hungry and had to eat in the hotel fine dining resturant. There is a message there somewhere but not one attendee who prepaid but didn't get anything except half lobster with a fine Tasmanian chardonay etc. really kicked up a stink and no precious resignations. We all make mistakes and always the day trippers cause problems.Kenny38
You know, twin points ignition, spare diffs on the FF and 2 spare carbs on the SP, hopefully that puts one way ticket rep to bed once and for all and we can acquit him on that.
I must say I liked Grants approach in his pm. Suprise Santa. Doesn't work for everyone though. Thankfully Penny Farthing's animals are all safe now. I did think we would have to send in Grant in a manual Vignale FFF 100 at one point.
