Flexible working encouraged as a solution to staffing issues
Constant staff shortages across all industries in recent months have resulted in chaos across all sectors from logistics to hospitality, including disruption within food production and airports such as Manchester.
Staffing agency GIG is countering this by encouraging businesses to embrace new ways of working and offering people the chance to find jobs that fit their lifestyles. They’re increasing their reach in the North West by reopening and expanding their Manchester office.
The British Chamber of Commerce advised that 76% of businesses faced recruitment difficulties in the second quarter of 2022. The manufacturing, logistics, and hospitality industries experienced some of the biggest struggles.
GIG is a staffing agency focused on maximum flexibility for its workers and clients. They see a model where workers can pick when and where they work, how many shifts they need and how often, and training to take on new roles.
Tony Carnall will lead the new office. Carnall has a long background in hospitality and is familiar with the challenges of keeping the sector and others like it well staffed.
Antony Woodcock, MD at GIG, said: “The recruitment crisis we’ve seen in the past year isn’t going away on its own, we’ve got to rethink what we offer potential workforces.
“Central to our ethos is understanding that everyone is different and the types of work they will want to do varies – there’s no one size fits all.
“Parents might want shifts that fit around childcare, more young people are looking for travel and new experiences and need a job to match – these opportunities aren’t always readily available and so we’re excluding valuable workers from the labour force.”
“But that flexibility can be a tricky path for many businesses to take, as they fear uncertainty – we wanted to create a system that gives businesses the opportunity to use flexibility in new ways”
Tony Carnall, Regional Manager, GIG’s Manchester office, commented: “I’m excited to be back working with the Team at GIG and getting our Manchester Office set up and running. Manchester has grown so much over the last few years that now feels the right time to bring what we offer at GIG to the city.
“My aim is to grow a strong, reliable workforce through regular recruitment and interview days, and building strong relationships with both our clients and candidates past and new.
“Having worked with sectors such as Hospitality, Warehousing and Events, I know how challenging staffing can be – but building strong relationships with our clients and workforces will help combat those issues.”
