Phillip Reeves is venue catering manager for Jenkinson’s, a wedding catering specialist based in England which normally employs more than 200 people across eight venues in Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Herefordshire.
Phillip said the industry has been left reeling following one of the toughest periods in its history, with Jenkinsons facing the biggest recruitment drive it has faced since it was founded 60 years ago.
Phillip turned to Willo to help fill an unprecedented number of positions from assistant managers and front of house staff to delivery drivers and chefs.
He has since hired more than 50 people through the platform in a matter of weeks, a process he says wouldn’t have been possible through traditional methods.
“The pandemic, combined with the impact of Brexit which has seen huge numbers of people leave the sector, have put us in a position where we need to hire hundreds of people across the business. The hands-on demands of the job make it impossible to recruit through normal processes.
“It’s not just a case of just getting people in position, we need to get the right people – and Willo is a fantastic tool for achieving that.
Jenkinsons loved how easy to use Willo is, and that it's fun on both sides of the application, it brings the early recruitment process to life in a way not possible through traditional means. You know straight away whether somebody is engaged and a good fit.
We don’t use it for competencies in the workplace – what it does do is let me know if applicants have the passion, drive, enthusiasm and personality to fit into the team.
Willo slots into the recruitment process early, and makes the process far more engaging at that stage. It means you know you’re investing time in the right people later on. I can see video interviewing having a major impact on recruitment in the hospitality industry, both to tackle the current challenges and beyond.
