Domino's seeking 5,000 staff as workers return to pre-pandemic jobs

Pizza chain Domino's is recruiting for 5,000 roles as staff who joined the business during the pandemic return to their former jobs.

The company is seeking pizza chefs and delivery drivers to work in its 1,100 UK stores.

Domino's kept trading throughout the pandemic and hired thousands of extra staff to meet demand, with recruits including event managers, hairdressers and taxi drivers.

With businesses reopening and lockdown restrictions easing, many are now heading back to their old jobs.

"Throughout our recruitment drive last year, we were overwhelmed by the response from people of all walks of life," said Nicola Frampton, operations director at Domino's.

"I'm proud we were able to play a part by offering people the opportunity to continue working and earning when times were tough. But as people start to reunite, customer demand is showing no signs of slowing and so we're now looking for 5,000 new recruits."

The pizza chain is taking part in the government's Kickstart scheme, offering on-the-job training to 1,400 young people across England, Scotland and Wales. Candidates will be paid in line with current store levels and can apply for permanent roles at the end of a six-month placement.

Domino's is among thousands of hospitality businesses of all sizes looking to hire staff as the industry reopens, with one restaurant owner describing recruitment as "impossible".

UKHospitality estimates there is a shortage of 188,00 people with many overseas workers citing travel restrictions and the cost of quarantine in the UK as preventing them from returning.