Hospitality For All recruitment site to help Ukrainian refugees

London restaurants are being urged to sign up to a new recruitment website designed to provide jobs for Ukrainian refugees as they arrive in the UK.

The Burger & Lobster group has laid plans to develop Hospitalityforall.co.uk with the aim of speeding up the recruitment process for refugees seeking work.

Hospitality businesses that have already signed up include Wahaca, Franco Manca, the Cinnamon Collection, Pizza Pilgrims, Goodman, Zelman Meats, Beast, Sumi, Neyba and Miguel’s Pizza.

Hospitality For All will take the form of an ‘applicant-first’ recruitment website, where brands can post available jobs for refugees.

Those seeking employment will be able to submit one simple application form for a variety of industry vacancies, from front to back-of-house, rather than having to apply to multiple restaurants. Applications will be shared across the consortium’s recruitment teams.

Alex Sheekey, head of people at Burger & Lobster, said: "Our industry has always welcomed people from different nationalities, skill sets and backgrounds, and this is another example of our sector doing what it does best.

“We wanted to open our doors to help those in crisis, but recognise that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We're a powerful sector when we come together, and we thank those operators who have signed up and welcome future partners to join us in this cause."

Pret A Manger has already said it can provide jobs for up to 50 refugees, and Mildreds, which has six plant-based restaurants in London, is offering up to £550 for individuals to travel to the UK and find accommodation before starting work. Hotels are also being urged to offer empty rooms as accommodation.

The Hospitality For All platform is currently in development stages with CAB Studios and will launch mid-April. For hospitality businesses looking to sign up, visit www.burgerandlobster.com/hospitality-for-all/

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