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Trade in 'big trouble' over front-of-house staff shortage

Published:  02 February, 2011

The hospitality industry is in "big trouble" due to a shortage of front-of-house staff, says one of the stars of BBC Two's Michel Roux's Service programme.

The hospitality industry is in "big trouble" due to a shortage of front-of-house staff, says one of the stars of BBC Two's Michel Roux's Service programme.

Fred Sirieix, general manager of Galvin at Windows in London, has been assisting Michel Roux in training eight young apprentices in how to become top front-of-house staff. "I hope the viewers don't only like the story, but also the message behind the show. The hospitality industry is in big trouble. We can't find the staff, we've got a big wedding coming up and we can't find anyone in this country who wants to do this job," he said.

He said Galvin now have to offer front-of-house staff English lessons alongside regular training. Serieix says one of the major difficulties in trying to recruit new staff is that young people do not believe hospitality is a career with prospects. "A top maitre d' in London can earn six-figures, and staff can start at about £18,000."

There are two episodes remaining in the series, to be screened tonight and tomorrow (Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 on BBC2 at 8pm). In the final two of the trainees will be awarded scholarships, one for food service and the other wine.

Sophie Roberts-Brown, executive director of the Academy of Food and Wine Service, which came up with the idea for the show, told Harpers Wine & Spirit the idea was to get "a higher profile for front-of-house staff".
Last week's episode six involved a trip to Champagne along with Master Sommelier and director of wines and spirits at Hotel du Vin Ronan Sayburn.

AFWS has relaunched its website to conicide with the first episode of the series, and posted content from the show's "stars" after each episode was aired to coincide with the programme. "We needed to communicate with young people in a way they were used to," said Roberts-Brown.

There are video interviews and blog entries from Master Sommeliers Gerard Basset and Sayburn, as well as Pommery's Colin Cameron on Champagne. The AFWS's Twitter following has increased to over 600 from just 22 since the show began. Interest from  people wanting to enter the profession has also peaked, according to Roberts-Brown, "People are spending almost five minutes on the site now, checking out information and blogs. Before the show this was just 30 seconds on average".

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