Employing staff a nightmare says Shropshire landlord

Employing staff in Shropshire is an "absolute nightmare", a radio DJ turned pub landlord has claimed.

A recent survey by The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development warned youth unemployment– already at one in five among 16 to 24 year olds – could rise further because teenagers are not employable.

And Nick Snaith, a Heart FM DJ and owner of The Aston at Newport, says he is increasingly frustrated by what he terms "a lack of professionalism" among those trying to find work.

During his search for staff Mr Snaith has seen people send in their CV and win an interview and then fail to show without a phone call or even email to let him know.

Many have even organised for their parents to call in to say they are ill. He said many did not understand customer service and lacked the basic communication skills needed to get a job.

"Business is doing well and we are looking to expand our operation but time and time again we are let down when recruiting key members of staff," he said.

"In all honesty, recruitment is an absolute nightmare at the moment. Someone will send in their CV and be really excited when we get in contact and invite them to an interview, but then they don't turn up. No phone call, no email, nothing.

Unprofessional

"Maybe it's just this industry, maybe it's other industries too, but these jobseekers don't seem to have the skills to deal with work. Their attitude is so unprofessional and I've even had people get their parents to ring up to say they can't make it to the interview or into work. It's just not acceptable."

He added: "We're in a recession and you'd think people would be crying out for work and doing everything they can to get a job but it's just not that way at all.

"I want to expand this business and develop new sites but we cannot find the right standard of worker to make this happen."

The survey showed 12 per cent of employers plan to hire 16 year olds who have just completed their GCSEs , a drop of two per cent compared to 2010, while the number of employers looking to hire post A-Level students has also fallen by almost a third last year.