Call for contract caterers' fund to boost their image

A consultant has called for the contract catering industry to set up a "fighting fund" to attract employees and combat the industry's dull image.

Dick Turpin, chairman of the Turpin Smale consultancy, said the image of contract catering was still that of an industry that ran only canteens, which discouraged many young recruits.

He wants the proposed fund to be used for research into how to help contract caterers improve their image and beat the shortage of staff. He said: "We need to do some focused research into the 16- to 35-year-olds we aren't attracting. Also, we should be looking to recruit from other service industries and not just hotels and restaurants."

The big contract caterers gave a mixed welcome to Turpin's suggestion. Bill Toner, chief executive of Aramark, thought it was a good idea. But Frank Whittaker, sales and marketing director of Compass, said the company would contribute to a collective fund only if its objectives were very clear.

Whittaker said: "Historically, it's been difficult for competitors to share funding. Most of us are working hard on our own recruitment programmes."

Bob Cotton, of the British Hospitality Association, and David Wood, of the Hotel & Catering International Management Association, said that extensive research into recruitment strategies had already been done.

According to recruitment group Mayday's latest salary survey, 85% of contract caterers are short of skilled personnel, and 80% have difficulties recruiting semiskilled workers.

By Ben Walker