Rose Street Foundry's new manager Billy McKechnie has faith in young team at the Inverness bar by putting them through their apprenticeships
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A city centre pub has reopened with a new staff team aiming to make the venue a success.
The new manager at Rose Street Foundry in Academy Street is Billy McKechnie, who formerly ran Blackfriars across the road.
He has been joined by three chefs and a barman, also from his former bar.
The rest of the team are all aged 22 or under, with Mr McKechnie saying he was keen to give them a start in the hospitality industry, with plans to put them all through modern apprenticeship courses.
“Obviously, due to the issue of there being no staff, we put out ads to look for young and vibrant people and they replied,” he said.
He said the reopening, which included a new menu offering, was a fresh start for the business with the whole team raring to go.
“They are excited about the new start and excited about working and that is the main thing in the UK now where the younger generation just need that opportunity and the guidance to grow,” Mr McKechnie said.
“I have spoken with Inverness College and they are going to do apprenticeships for them so that they can actually get something behind their name – qualifications for later in life and moving up in the hospitality industry.”
Mr McKechnie is not the first to highlight a recruitment crisis in the hospitality industry and said he felt both the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit had contributed to the situation.
“A lot of people have moved back to Europe and are not coming back so those workers are no longer here and I think if we can all just start giving the 18-year-olds and the younger generation that opportunity to prove themselves they will grab it,” he said.
Happy to feel he is making his own contribution to easing the staffing crisis he added: “I believe that is how we just need to invest in the younger generation.”
The apprenticeships being offered to Foundry staff cover a range of areas including professional cookery, hospitality services, leadership and supervision in hospitality and hospitality management and those who successfully complete their course will receive a diploma for their efforts.
