Back from Summer?
- Wave Staffing Editor
- Aug 26
- 2 min read
Hospitality leaders return from summer – facing the staffing challenge for autumn and beyond
As summer draws to a close, many hospitality leaders – from Food & Drink Managers to General Managers of hotels and venues in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds – are returning from well-earned breaks.
But as they walk back through the doors of their properties, there’s a familiar challenge waiting: staffing!
The transition from summer to autumn is always a critical period. With the festive season fast approaching, venues are preparing for an increase in bookings, large corporate events, weddings, and of course, the Christmas party season.
Demand for staff rises sharply, yet the available pool of experienced and reliable hospitality workers often falls short.
Challenges on the Horizon
General shift cover: Day-to-day service requires consistent staffing levels in kitchens, bars, floor service, and banqueting operations. Gaps here cause undue strain on existing teams, increasing risk of burnout.
Large events: September through December is packed with events. From gala dinners and awards evenings to Christmas parties, these require significant numbers of skilled temporary staff – but managers may struggle to build teams large enough to cope.
Recruitment and retention: Finding, training, and keeping staff in hospitality remains a well-documented issue. Relying solely on permanent hires often isn’t realistic for the short surges in demand leading up to Christmas.
The benefits of partnering with Wave Staffing
Instead of battling these issues alone, many managers are turning to trusted staffing partners such as Wave Staffing to bridge the gap. The advantages are clear:
Immediate access to talent: Wave maintains a pool of trained, pre-vetted hospitality professionals who can be placed quickly across a variety of roles, from waiting staff to bar staff to event managers.
Flexibility to scale: Whether you need cover for short-notice sickness on a Tuesday or a full team for a 500-guest banquet on a Saturday, Wave provides the flexibility to scale staffing levels as required with over 150+ staff on call.
Reduced pressure on core teams: By outsourcing additional demand to professionals who know the sector, managers can protect their in-house employees from burnout and ensure consistent service quality.
Confidence in service delivery: Guest experience is at the heart of hospitality. With Wave staffing professionals filling the gaps, managers can focus on running operations smoothly rather than firefighting staffing problems in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.
Looking Ahead to Christmas 2025
The final quarter of the year always plays a defining role in hospitality performance – financially and reputationally.
With full calendars and high guest expectations, the margin for error is slim.
For many GMs and F&B leaders, the smartest move isn’t to overextend existing teams, but to proactively plan staffing support now.
By leaning on staffing partners like Wave, venues can take control of labour challenges, maintain high service standards, and approach the busiest period of the year with confidence.
Lets have a chat - www.wavestaffing.co.uk/contact
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