Serbian students ease Claridge's staff problems

The Savoy group's five-star Claridge's hotel in London has had to turn to war-torn Serbia to fill its staff vacancies.

The hotel, long associated with royalty, has taken on 18 students from Belgrade University.

General manager Christopher Cowdray said: "The problem in the UK is finding people who have the right skills or the right attitude or who want to stay for a reasonable period of time."

The hotel believes it has found a good source of loyal staff who speak superb English.

It contacted the Serbian university via a member of its staff who has family in Belgrade.

The trainees work in a variety of departments, from food and beverage to housekeeping.

Seven of the students will stay with the hotel for two years. The rest will return to college after one year.

Cowdray said the placements offered a great opportunity for the students and were working out well for the hotel.

He said he expected Claridge's to continue employing staff from the university.

Meanwhile, another of the capital's five-star hotels the Landmark, has had to look even further afield for staff - it has taken on two chefs from Malaysia.

Personnel manager Clare Hind said that compared with many of their UK equivalents, the Malaysians were hard-working, methodical and had good hygiene standards.

The chefs will initially live in the Landmark. They will also be assigned "buddies" to introduce them to London and help them find alternative accommodation.

by Angela Frewin