Personnel

Temp Holidays

Mayday Staff Services, a catering temporary employment agency in east London, is offering paid holidays in order to attract high-quality staff, particularly chefs.

By treating its temporary staff as full-time employees and offering them holidays, training and career counselling, Mayday claims it can attract enthusiastic and keen individuals.

Mayday managing director Jane Sunley hoped other temporary agencies would follow her company's lead in improving employment conditions.

"Sadly, we have a long way to go before adequate hourly rates are achieved throughout the industry. But I'm sure that investment in all grades of staff to attract better-quality people is the key to long-term business success," she said.

Recruitment hots up

Virgin Atlantic is one of several prestige companies which will be attending the Caterer & Hotelkeeper Careers and Recruitment Show at the Novotel Hammersmith in early October.

The airline has been recruiting cabin crew since last October and will be using the recruitment show to find more personnel to work on its new Hong Kong and San Francisco routes.

A spokeswoman for the airline said that catering, nursing or flying experience would be an advantage for candidates, who would also have to meet height and age criteria.

Other companies exhibiting at the show include Forte Hotels, Pelican Group, Gardner Merchant, Stena Sealink and four of Whitbread's restaurant and hotel brands.