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The chef shortage: A solvable crisis?

The chef shortage - it's a fundamental and well-documented challenge for the hospitality industry, and one that is now starting to have a real impact on the way restaurants and other food businesses operate.

Projections suggest the industry will need an additional 11,000 chefs in the next five years and that businesses are still struggling to fill vacancies - but there were 28,390 chef students in 2015/16 alone; so why do we have a shortage at all?

Our latest report combines new and existing data with views from key industry commentators, businesses, students, learning providers, head chefs and recruitment agencies to tackle this question once and for all, and find out:

1. What is the extent of the chef shortage?

2. What is causing the shortage?

3. What’s the impact of the shortage?

4. What needs to be done to address the shortage?

Complete your details below to access the executive summary, full report and infographic:

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BLOG: 8 practical ways businesses can help solve the chef shortage

As any hospitality employer knows, recruiting great chefs is tough. Keeping them is even tougher. Here are eight practical things you can do, right now, to alleviate the chef shortage.

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Find the best colleges to recruit from

If you're looking to recruit student chefs or offer work placements, our hospitality accredited colleges are among the best in the nation - as endorsed by employers themseves.

Find your nearest accredited college

Maximise apprenticeships to develop your chef talent

If your business needs skilled chefs, the new apprenticeships are a fantastic solution. We can help you develop a strategy that utilises the new apprenticeships – and maximises your levy investment to do so.

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Transform your chefs' management skills

Successful chefs not only have excellent culinary skills, but the ability to inspire and motivate their teams. Our Management 1st programme will help them hone these skills.

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