A bonus pot worth £20,000 for employees and customers has been put aside by independent restaurant and bar operators Buzzworks in a bid to attract chefs into their kitchens and tackle a recruitment drought.
The referral incentive means that if a chef mentions it was a friend or family referral that urged them to apply – a monetary bonus could be on its way. As long as an offer of employment is made and they work within the business for at least three months, then the referrer will receive a generous cash sum directly from Buzzworks.
Bonuses range from £200 for a Commis Chef to £750 for referring a successful Head Chef candidate. For anyone referred that joins the team at Scotts South Queensferry or Buzzworks newest venue The Bridge Inn Linlithgow then the reward is doubled up to £1500.
Trevor Garden, Buzzworks Chef Director, said, “We are challenging the stereotypical negative perception of hospitality careers. We proudly offer benefits to all of our people focused on work-life balance including flexible working, four day weeks and paid overtime.
“As an ambitious business, we’re always striving to develop our menus and cooking techniques providing world-class equipment, fresh produce and offering bespoke training and development. We also have new venues on the horizon but desperately need to match new recruits to our current vacancies across Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and West Lothian in order for us all to thrive.
“As a people business which values every voice, we are looking to our own people but also our communities to refer motivated and talented individuals – and we’ve released an impressive bonus pot to reward and thank successful referrals.
“Whether you know a college graduate keen for their first step on the ladder, an established chef looking to thrive in a new environment or a novice in the kitchen seeking a complete career change – we’d love to hear from them.”
Candidates simply have to specify the friend or family member when applying and if they successfully complete their three-month probationary period, Buzzworks will be in touch with the referrer to arrange their cash bonus.
Interested chefs should visit www.belongatbuzzworks.com or call/WhatsApp Viv on 07514 496 387 to find out more.
Buzzworks, which has been named in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work for consecutively for five years, offers flexible working with four day weeks available and paid overtime as well as an equal share of tips, 40% discount on all venue food menus, and excellent training and development programmes.
Buzzworks also provides access to Hospitality Action wellbeing services, a company wellbeing fund and Health Club with nutritional advice, weekly calls, outdoor training and fundraising events. Most recently, Buzzworks seamlessly integrated Wagestream, a leader in earned wage access, to its systems which offers increased flexibility and early access to 50% of earnings for individuals.
Buzzworks Holdings currently manages twelve venues including Scotts in Troon, Largs and South Queensferry, Vic’s & The Vine in Prestwick, Lido venues in Prestwick and Troon, The Tree House in Ayr, The Long House and Duke in Kilmarnock, The Mill House in Stewarton, The Corner House in Kilwinning and The Coach House in Bridge of Weir.
The latest addition to the Buzzworks portfolio is The Bridge Inn Linlithgow which is expected to open in summer 2021.