Hospitality staff thanked for hard work

Saturday 12 November 2022

Having relocated to Guernsey to work in the hospitality sector, a group of workers have been taken out for drinks as a thank you.

The staff came to Guernsey from countries including Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and others.

Many are on three or five year work permits meaning they have come to the island with the intention of being here for the long term working in hotels, bars, and other businesses.

They were recruited to work in the island by the agency Caterquest.

Manager, Martyn Gordon said many of them are qualified in their specific sector up to degree level, offering service in hotel management, reception work, or food preparation, with other skills such as cocktail being highly sought after locally too.

Pictured: Employers including the Sarnia Hotel Group have been matched with staff through this scheme this year.

Late last year, Caterquest - a Guernsey based and managed hospitality agency - said it identified that there would be a recruitment gap in many local hotels, restaurants and cafes.

For many years, Guernsey had recruited hospitality staff from the EU and the UK, but at the start of the pandemic, many left to return home.

Following the pandemic, and after Brexit had been implemented, some found it difficult to return leaving a shortfall in key staff levels.

Caterquest began recruiting "professional and career minded staff" from the Philippines, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, amongst others.

Mr Gordon said "the majority had experience of working in high end establishments in the UAE, for an international clientele" and that their skills were highly sought after.

An informal get together was held at The Terrace this week to thank those staff for their hard work at the end of this year's summer season.

"You have helped Guernsey's hospitality sector when it needed it most and you have worked incredibly hard, with enthusiasm and dedication," said Mr Gordon.

"You have brought professionalism and positivity to your jobs and to Guernsey that you should all be very proud of. As well as working hard you have embraced Guernsey's culture and made the island your home."