Ballarat Group Training is stepping up to lend a hand, hosting an information day for people interested or considering working in the industry next week as part of a recruitment drive.

BGT chief executive Graham McMahon said hospitality training was not a big part of BGT's offering in the past but the team was working to make it a core focus in the future.

He said the team was bringing forward its hospitality work in response to the dire need in the industry.

"We are going to target the school leavers, return to work parents and a whole variety of people who have so much to offer who can be trained up into hospitality," Mr McMahon said.

Mr McMahon said BGT had partnered with a number of Ballarat hospitality businesses as part of the recruitment drive and had a list of more than 50 vacancies to help fill.

Jobs range from pouring beers, to table service, chefs, kitchen hands and cleaners.

Mr McMahon said there had always been skills shortages in the hospitality industry, but COVID-19 lockdown periods and uncertainty meant a lot of staff had left the industry, worsening the situation.

He said this was an opportunity to reset and offer a different mindset about working in hospitality in Ballarat.

"If you don't have any experience it probably goes in your favour because the industry really wants to have people of good character they can train up and have long term," he said.

"We will look at resumes and information, look at how job ready people are and if we are able to fill gaps in training for them we will.

"If they are ready we will match them straight to a list of jobs we have and match them to the employer."

Mr McMahon said it was the first time BGT had worked so closely with a sector like this.

"We thought we would create this opportunity because the need is so great at the moment," he said.

RELATED COVERAGE: Hospitality businesses risk closing their doors due to staff shortages

BGT hospitality courses will start in the new year, with the organisation shifting to make it a core focus.

"We want to set up pipelines for the industry, whether they come from school leavers or return to work parents or people from multicultural backgrounds. Maybe there is new pipelines there we can tap into," Mr McMahon said.

"In the long term we want to put them through training like a barista course, safe food handling, responsible service of alcohol and resume help in order to get them job ready."

New unemployment data shows regional Victoria's unemployment rate is at an all time low, with Ballarat experiencing one of the highest decreases in unemployment.

Ballarat experienced a decline of 1.2 percentage points to an unemployment rate of 2.7 per cent in the three months to October 2021.

The Forge Pizzeria owner Tim Matthews said the hospitality industry was changing employment practices to make it more attractive for new staff.

"Some of the previous employment practices of not getting time off and not seeing friends and family, these days that is unsustainable so we need to come up with some sort of balance," he said.

"There used to be a bit of a stigma attached to long hours and underpay. I think we have moved on from that. If there is any of that still going on I certainly want that resolved.

"This can be a really fun industry and the pay can be and should be fair.

"We want all employers to do their bit and work with all of the staff to make sure they are getting nice to have conditions like a knock off drink or free pizza at the end of your shift.

"There are some real positives that can come out of the industry. That is why I haves stayed in it."

RELATED COVERAGE: Skills shortages the next big challenge for the hospitality industry

Red Lion Hotel owner David Canny said it was a new approach for employers to take on new staff who have no experience.

"It is about changing our approach as operators from waiting for the right person to walk through the door with the right experience, to waiting for that right person to walk in the door and we can give them that experience," he said.

"Now is the time to change the way to think about how we recruit. This should be seen as an opportunity and an exciting new hospitality environment.

"I think we have been a bit reactionary as an industry hoping people will walk through the door and we only start recruiting when there is a new need.

"We need to change the way we think about that and create a pipeline of skilled employees across the whole state. We have to see that as an opportunity and a real responsibility of the industry."

Mr Canny said it was an attractive proposition to work in hospitality now restrictions had eased and there was more certainty about no more lockdowns.

He said there were exciting long-term careers in hospitality and it was not what many people considered as a part-time transition job.

"Once we get them in, it is our job to entice them to stay," Mr Canny said.

"A lot of my employees now have fallen in love with the industry been with us for a long time.

"There are pathways to promotion and it's multi-skilled. Once we get them in it is our job to embrace them, train them and help them make a career out of it."

Mr Matthews said he was down about six full-time staff at his businesses, which meant he would not be able to snap back to full capacity, despite the easing of restrictions.

"We will head to pre-pandemic capacity but we won't do it too fast. We need to be mindful the staff that are working are working pretty hard," he said.

"Until we get enough people up to speed and improve those skills we will gradually be going back. It wont be a giant step it will be a series of small steps to get us back to where we want to be.

"We really need the customers to be aware of some of the skills shortages and training gaps. That message of be kind is probably more important than it ever has been."

BGT employment services manager Narelle Edwards said the hospitality promotion campaign was an example of how different businesses and organisations could work together across Ballarat.

"COVID has brought the city together and it has knocked down a lot of walls and barriers so now people understand we can work together in a really efficient manner," she said.

"You might have two businesses that both want somebody part time, they could get the same person and work together to fill a full time role.

"I think businesses more than being competitive want to work together to make sure as many businesses can be open and successful as possible while filling the needs of job seekers."

Job seekers invited to find exciting new employment opportunities at BGT Jobs + Training Office at Barkly Square on Tuesday 23 rd of November at 4pm.

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