Hospitality recruiter Skills Connect International has launched a fee-free offer to help businesses get back on their feet. The company isn’t charging any fees or commissions to supply first candidates.

“Right now we just want to help venues open and help lots of people get back to work and get their confidence back,” CEO Roy McCullagh (above) explained.

Skills Connect International held a virtual launch last week, where McCullagh was joined by industry leaders from the clubs, pubs and food service. Guest speakers included:

• Diane Lobasso, Business Relationship Manager at Mitronics, Australia`s number one office equipment supplier to the hospitality industry
• John McFadden, Brand Ambassador for Goodrop Oils and an award winning chef
• Melissa Clayton, Marketing Manager at Riverina Oils
• Kieran Fitsall, owner of The Sailor Bar and Grill in Northbridge, Sydney
• Toby Robinson, General Manager at Braci Osteria and Pizzeria in Willoughby, Sydney

Guests discussed how they’ve survived the current lockdowns and their plans to thrive moving forward. Fitsall, for example, got the keys to his bar the day the first lockdown was announced in March 2020.

It will be an exciting month ahead for NSW businesses, following the NSW Government announcing its roadmap out of lockdown on Monday. Restaurant & Catering Australia chief Wes Lambert said consultation between industry and the NSW government had been fantastic.

“NSW’s hospitality industry is on cloud nine today and we would like to thank the NSW government for their ongoing consultation during this period,” he said.

“This road map will give certainty in the most uncertain of times.” 

McCullagh has worked extensively with global hospitality brands and is passionate about driving positive outcomes for venues and staff following the disruptions the pandemic has created.

“The whole idea is to connect really great venues with really great staff,” McCullagh recently told Venessa Barnes at FoodLogic. “It’s been devastating for businesses and for staff who were from overseas who lost everything. During the first lockdown, many had to go home if they could get out of the country and those that stayed couldn’t pay their rent.

“A lot of these people had no family here to support them. I thought it would be great if I could help them.”

Find out more about the hospitality recruiter by emailing Roy McCullagh at: roy@skillsconnectinternational.com

If you missed the event, you can watch it on YouTube below:

Skills Connect helps hospitality industry re-staff