Shortage of chefs caused by 'perfect storm'

Two white, male chefs are working in a large, professional kitchen.  Both are wearing blue and white striped aprons over black t-shirts.  The man in the foreground is inspecting two duck breasts in a pan.  The man in the background is chopping vegetables.
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The Oxford Guild of Chefs said independent restaurants have been hardest hit, with Brexit, Covid and the state of the economy to blame.

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A group of chefs has warned that small independent restaurants are bearing the brunt of a shortage of chefs, caused by a 'perfect storm' in the industry.

The Oxford Guild of Chefs said the sector was "on it's knees" and had not yet recovered from the impacts of Brexit and Covid.

Owner and executive chef at the Five Little Pigs restaurant in Wallingford, Aimee Collins, said economic factors had added to the problems and created "an awful storm of misery for hospitality businesses".

The government had said it was helping pubs, cafes and restaurants by extending business rates relief and cutting the cost of licensing so more establishments could offer al fresco dining.

Aimee Collins has her blonde hair tied back.  She is stood outside her restaurant.  She is wearing an olive green apron over a white t-shirt
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Restaurant owner Aimee Collins said: "the staffing pool... has been absolutely drained".

Ms Collins said: "normality hasn't resumed post-Brexit, post-Covid. The staffing pool... has been absolutely drained".

"But the last year has really thrown a few extra curveballs and it does, frankly, as a small independent, feel pretty relentless" she added.

Ms Collins sited the cost of living crisis, rises in National Insurance and the 20 percent rate VAT as contributing factors.

Ben Gibbons has short blond hair.  He is sat at a dining table wearing a blue and white striped apron over a black t-shirt.
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Master of the Oxford Guild of Chefs, Ben Gibbons, said; "a combination of events has led to the perfect storm... distorting the industry".

Master of the Oxford Guild of Chefs, Ben Gibbons, said it wants to "recruit the new generation of chefs... because it's such a good industry to be in".

Five leading Oxfordshire chefs have shared their stories, external as part of a new social media campaign, aimed at attracting more people into the industry.

Mr Gibbons is also head chef at The University of Oxford's St Anne's College.

"It's such a supportive network of people... it's an exciting thing - the adrenaline rush when you're working in a kitchen" he said.

"Cheffing is an amazing career, but there's a real shortage of people pursuing it. I'm passionate about getting more young people cooking, because it's a life skill everyone should know – and there are so many career opportunities."

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