Northern Territory hospitality businesses will get skilled UK workers to fill positions

Northern Territory hospitality businesses are set to cash in on the UK’s love of Australia as the government pushes forward with a plan to plug staffing shortfalls.

International workers will be used to bolster one of the Territory’s most important sectors ahead of the dry season.

The NT government has partnered with Hospitality NT to offer up to $200,000 to businesses in the hospitality sector as part of the Flexible Workforce Solutions Fund.

The grant will fund licensed venues travelling to the UK in February to deliver projects and strategies aimed at attracting and retaining skilled bartenders, chefs and wait staff.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said 68 per cent of venues indicated they wanted to grow their workforce in 2023.

“We predict 1000 full-time workers, 4000 casuals and 90 apprentices are needed ahead of next season,” he said.

“We had a strong dry season this year, next year is going to be strong as well.”

“(The industry can) go and directly target good UK workers who we hope will help complement, mentor and upskill our local workforce.”

Mr Bruce said a similar program ran 10 years ago, bringing Irish workers to the Territory.

Many of those workers operate Territory businesses “to this day”, he said.

“We need to do that again,” Mr Bruce said.

NT Skills and Training Minister Paul Kirby said one of the key challenges to Territory businesses last year was finding staff.

“The hospitality sector is one of the Territory’s most important, keeping locals and visitors fed and entertained and employing staff members all year round,” he said.

“We need more workers to pour our beers, serve up our schnitties and make sure our bars and pubs are pumping again this dry season.”

When applying for the grant, Territory businesses need to show their project contributes to regional industry workforce solutions and seasonal workforce strategies, leverages new technology or innovation, and delivers direct worker attraction and recruitment services.

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