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A local chef is mounting a battle against the States after he was denied the right to employ any non-Jersey staff amid recruitment struggles, saying he’s ready to take it "all the way to the Royal Court" in a landmark stand for his crisis-hit industry.
Justin Saunders, Head Chef of newly-opened Ruby’s Lounge and Bistro, learned last week that he would not receive any employment licenses for staff to assist him in the kitchen.
He had made the petition to the government following major problems in recruiting locally qualified cooks amid a industry-wide skills shortage that has led to more than 150 hospitality and catering vacancies needing to be filled across the island.
When his requests were refused, he made a presentation to the Housing and Work Advisory Group (HAWAG), urging them to consider the specifics of his case. However, he was told last week that this appeal had been denied in line with the island’s Population Policy.
Pictured: Mr Saunders is the Head Chef of Ruby's, a new Broadway themed restaurant venture that has transformed the former Town House building.
In a letter outlining the refusal, they said that the fledgling business should have been aware of the recruitment risks when it opened in July – but Mr Saunders says that such a stance stifles new businesses from starting up at all, let alone growing.
“We don’t have bottomless money [to train people up from scratch]. We can’t grow with our hands tied behind our back,” a “disgusted” Mr Saunders told Express just hours after receiving the news.
The kitchen team had already been forced to work late nights spanning mornings until 1:00 or 2:00 on occasion, and Mr Saunders fears that this is set to continue.
Plugging the gap will also mean scaling back operations by serving fewer customers and cutting back hours, but he understands that this could also have reputational repercussions: “Social media doesn’t realise what goes into putting that plate in front of you.”
Describing the ordeal as enormously “stressful” on both on a business and personal level, Mr Saunders said that his story is sadly one that has been repeated across an industry he feels has been “ignored” by government for too long and needs to finally be addressed.
“I’ll be taking this all the way to the Royal Court… Someone needs to stand up and be counted. We are backed into a corner… In the golden days of hospitality people used to be proud to be involved, now no one wants to do it anymore,” he explained.
In mounting his battle, he hopes to grab the attention of government and lay the foundations for more hospitality support and “flexibility” built into the license granting process.
“The industry is at breaking point… I’ll fight and fight.”
In that “fight”, he’ll be supported by Jersey Hospitality Association Manager Simon Soar, who said he was shocked and "disappointed" to hear that Mr Saunders’ application had been “unjustly denied.”
With a “perfect storm” of recruitment struggles and Brexit looming on the horizon, he said that Ruby’s Lounge and Bistro's story was likely to repeat itself “unless something dramatic is done.”
“We will see businesses close next year,” he warned. “A lot are doing extremely well, so it’s not from lack of demand. Remember they have weathered the depression of 2008 to get where they are now… But we need the government to be sympathetic.”
Mr Soar added that he understood the need to control the island’s population, but that the government should be “removing licenses when the industry is at a high point, not a low.”
Pictured: JHA's Simon Soar.
The industry is currently doing a lot of outreach work with primary and secondary schools in a bid to encourage more locals into the industry, but, similarly to the construction industry who he said found themselves in a similar position some years earlier, these benefits will not be able to be reaped for a few years.
In the interim, the JHA are campaigning for a more “understanding” approach to awarding licensees to tide the industry over, and willing to throw their full weight behind Mr Saunders to get the recognition and support the industry needs at this moment of “crisis.”
Tourism promotion giant Visit Jersey is also backing Mr Saunders’ battle.
Keith Beecham, CEO, commented: “According to our research, amongst the top ten reasons for a holiday is being somewhere with a relaxed atmosphere in the evening... Ruby’s is trying to fill this gap with a dining and music experience and we are supportive of their desire to grow a new business in St Helier."
Pictured: Visit Jersey CEO Keith Beecham.
He continued: “We support a policy that seeks to encourage employment for islanders as a priority, not only in tourism but across all sectors. Our labour market is pretty tight and we are working with our businesses to upskill their workforce and make best use of technology to further improve productivity. This is important because our visitor economy is vital to Jersey; 727,000 visitors chose to visit Jersey last year spending over £250 million.
“Ruby’s is at an exciting launch phase and securing suitable staff will be essential to providing the high standards we, as residents, and visitors demand. We recognise getting talent is key to success for them. Industry, government and the wider community need to work together to agree a solution that work for all businesses on the island.”
Currently, there are no new Population Policy plans on the table, with the new Council of Minister’s having shelved previous proposals, which included time-limited visas, put forward by their predecessors.
Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré has repeatedly labelled the issue a “priority”, but has nonetheless warned that no solution is likely to be forthcoming until next year – but not in time for the next season.
Lead photo: Justin Saunders, Ruby's Head Chef. (Ruby's/Facebook)
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