Chief’s claim is slammed

Jan 18 2008 By Jezz Davison, Evening Gazette

THE hospitality industry in the North-East has slammed the British Hospitality Association (BHA) chief who claimed that British workers were “unemployable.”

Chief executive of the BHA, Bob Cotton told a parliamentary inquiry into tourism that British workers lacked the skill and motivation of central Europeans, who, he claimed, had “done more to improve standards in our industry than anything from our local schools and colleges”.

But Tees Valley hoteliers said local workers were vital to the industry’s prosperity.

Tricia Tolley, owner of Sunnyside Hotel in Eaglescliffe, said: “There is no reason not to employ migrant workers but we have taken on very capable local staff who have been with us for a number of years. If they were not up to the job, they would not have been here for so long.”

Middlesbrough’s Baltimore Hotel employs migrant workers.

Philip Jeffels, general manager, said: “Some foreign workers are better than others but you could say the same about British workers, so the argument (from Bob Cotton) doesn’t add up.”

Nationally, it is estimated that 1.2m out of 1.8m workers employed by BHA members are from overseas. Around 16,700 people are employed in the Tees Valley hospitality industries.

Kevin Rowan, Northern TUC regional secretary, said improving skills was more important than workers’ origins.

He said: “UK workers perceive hospitality and tourism to be an employment of last resort due to the often anti-social hours, conditions and low pay. Quality of work is key to making hospitality and tourism a more attractive option for any worker - migrant or otherwise, so improving pay and skills is paramount.”

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