One in 50 job applicants at cafe chain Pret A Manger is British
The company says it will be difficult to staff its outlets after Brexit because UK citizens do not want to work in the industry.
Thursday 9 March 2017 09:10, UK
Just one in 50 of the applicants for a job at Pret A Manger is British, its director of human resources has said.
Andrea Wareham says the company will struggle to staff its cafes after Brexit because the industry is not seen as attractive enough to UK workers.
The chain, which operates more than 250 stores nationwide, with most in London, employs people from 110 countries.
About 65% of those who are not British are from the EU, Ms Wareham said.
She told the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee: "I would say that one in 50 people that apply to our company to work is British.
"If I had to fill all our vacancies in British-only applicants I would not be able to fill them... because of a lack of applications."
She said that even if she was able to offer higher wages, she said she still doubted that UK citizens would apply to work for the firm.
"I actually don't think increasing pay would do the trick," Ms Wareham added.
"I can only talk for Pret on this, but we do pay well above the National Living Wage, we do have great benefits and we offer fantastic careers,"
"It really is a case of do people want to work in our industry?
"We are not seen always as a desirable place to work and I think that's the trick."
Brexit Secretary David Davis has already said the door to the UK cannot "suddenly shut" because it will take "years and years" to fill jobs in sectors that rely heavily on migrants, such as hospitality and social care.