Pubs, hotels and restaurants are having to turn away potential customers on a “frequent basis” because they don’t have the trained staff to meet demand.
That was the message from Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders who said it was becoming a major issue in her constituency, which includes visitor hotspots like Llandudno, Conwy and Betws-y-Coed.
The lockdown hit hospitality and retail sectors have been impacted by staff leaving during the pandemic and Brexit making recruitment from the EU far more challenging.
Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “I’m quite saddened and deeply frustrated that in Aberconwy, on a frequent basis, some of our pubs and hotels and eateries are now having to turn potential customers and visitors away.
“I have one cafe which is only able to operate three days a week, another licensee with two operations only able to keep one of his businesses open, and I have other hoteliers who are really struggling to find trained staff. Having come through an astoundingly difficult time due to frequent lockdowns this is the last thing that our businesses need.”
She said many disparate issues have contributed to the shortage - from unclear direct routes from education, an entrenched reputational challenge as well as the issue of wage levels. She asked for a training grant to help businesses - and what else Welsh Government could do to support the sectors.
Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, agreed this sector offered attractive careers for people and she was liaising with various sectors hit by skill shortages. She added that one of the biggest issues is Brexit stopping workers coming from the EU.
