RD Jones Group seeking more than 60 staff for its SA pubs

One of the state’s biggest pub groups is going to extra lengths to fill more than 60 jobs amid a hospitality staffing crisis fuelled by Covid-19.

One of the state’s biggest pub groups is going to extra lengths to lure workers into the hospitality industry amid a staffing crisis fuelled by the ongoing uncertainty of Covid-19.

RD Jones Group, which runs 14 pubs across the state, including The Moseley, The Gully Public House & Garden and The Woodcroft Hotel, will host its first hospitality careers open day event next week as it desperately seeks to fill more than 60 jobs currently available across its venues.

RD Jones Group director of operations Luke Donaldson said the uncertainty of Covid-19 lockdowns had led to an exodus of staff from the industry, and employers were struggling to attract new workers to take their place.

“It’s really serious,” he said.

“They’re leaving the industry, whether they’re going to work in supermarkets or going back to uni to get different jobs.

Gully Public House bar manager Cara Rodgers, RD Jones Group director of operations Luke Donaldson and Gully Public House head chef Tom Andersen. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“What we’re having to do is be innovative and creative in trying to draw juniors into the industry. We’ve developed the Jones Academy to train people and hopefully give them more opportunity to make it a full-time career, and the reason we’re doing this open day is to actually show there is still positivity in chasing a career in the hospitality industry.

“Hospitality is more than just pouring a beer – we have positions available from IT through to kitchen hands. Everything from casual bar staff, wait staff in restaurants, juniors at the entry level, gaming managers, duty managers, assistant managers, head chefs and sous chefs.

“Leading into summer that number will grow again by almost double.”

RD Jones recently acquired two pubs – The Challa Gardens in Croydon and the Port Noarlunga Hotel – and is planning major renovations that would create even more jobs.

Its recruitment drive comes as the industry calls for ongoing restrictions, including limitations on capacities and stand-up drinking, to be reviewed and eased in the lead-up to the busiest time of the year.

Australian Hotel Association SA chief executive Ian Horne said many hospitality workers had chosen to leave the industry due to the uncertainty of lockdowns and ongoing restrictions.

“They would quite rightly see that they’re the first ones to lose hours, they’re the first ones to lose shifts, they’re the first ones to be stood down – that comes at a significant economic cost,” he said.

“State by state we’ve seen quite severe restrictions and lockdowns and there’s been a loss of confidence in the industry.

“That shortage of staff is Australia-wide, and particularly for South Australia, the regions have trouble because we haven’t had any backpackers coming in, we haven’t had the various visas coming in because international borders have shut.

“It has been the most disruptive 18 months in living memory.”

The two-day open day event will run on Monday and Tuesday at The Gully Public House & Garden.

Mr Donaldson said RD Jones Group was hoping to engage secondary students and mature workers looking to re-skill, while also showcasing the variety of career opportunities within hospitality.

“Working in hospitality, the flexible hours, the pay rates are really good for staff and you can earn really good money as a manager but I don’t think people are really aware of that,” he said.

“We feel by being on the front foot now and having these open days we can lure new people into the industry who will replace those that have exited because of the uncertainty.”