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| Pret A Manger says one in 50 applicants is British | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sandwich and coffee chain Pret A Manger has suggested it will struggle to staff its outlets after Brexit because just one in 50 job applicants is British. | |
| Its director of human resources, Andrea Wareham, said UK job seekers did not see it as a desirable place to work. | Its director of human resources, Andrea Wareham, said UK job seekers did not see it as a desirable place to work. |
| She said about 65% of its staff came from the European Union. | She said about 65% of its staff came from the European Union. |
| It would be possible to shift the balance of nationality to British workers, she added, but that would take place "over a long period of time". | It would be possible to shift the balance of nationality to British workers, she added, but that would take place "over a long period of time". |
| Ms Wareham said she was "absolutely concerned" about the government's focus on skilled workers when looking at consequences of Brexit. She said it needed to focus on low-skilled as well. | Ms Wareham said she was "absolutely concerned" about the government's focus on skilled workers when looking at consequences of Brexit. She said it needed to focus on low-skilled as well. |
| Free food and drinks | Free food and drinks |
| Speaking to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, Ms Wareham said: "I would say that one in 50 people that apply to our company to work is British. | Speaking to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, Ms Wareham said: "I would say that one in 50 people that apply to our company to work is British. |
| "If I had to fill all our vacancies in British-only applicants I would not be able to fill them... because of a lack of applications." | "If I had to fill all our vacancies in British-only applicants I would not be able to fill them... because of a lack of applications." |
| Pret a Manger pays its staff in London (and places with a similar cost of living) £8.05 an hour, including a bonus. | Pret a Manger pays its staff in London (and places with a similar cost of living) £8.05 an hour, including a bonus. |
| In other regional towns and cities its pay is £7.85 per hour. They get minimum contract hours, are paid for their breaks, and receive free food and drinks when working. | In other regional towns and cities its pay is £7.85 per hour. They get minimum contract hours, are paid for their breaks, and receive free food and drinks when working. |
| The government's National Living Wage will be £7.50 an hour from the end of this month, although campaigners say this should be far higher, with a realistic living wage in London of £9.75 per hour and £8.45 per hour in the rest of the UK. | The government's National Living Wage will be £7.50 an hour from the end of this month, although campaigners say this should be far higher, with a realistic living wage in London of £9.75 per hour and £8.45 per hour in the rest of the UK. |
| Pret's starting package in London is about £16,000 a year, but Ms Wareham said staff can earn "really good money" with pay, including bonuses, rising to £40,000 to £45,000 "within a few years" of joining. | Pret's starting package in London is about £16,000 a year, but Ms Wareham said staff can earn "really good money" with pay, including bonuses, rising to £40,000 to £45,000 "within a few years" of joining. |
| And she said she doubted whether improving the terms of employment would bring in more UK applicants: "I actually don't think increasing pay would do the trick, I can only talk for Pret on this, but we do pay well above the National Living Wage, we do have great benefits and we offer fantastic careers. | And she said she doubted whether improving the terms of employment would bring in more UK applicants: "I actually don't think increasing pay would do the trick, I can only talk for Pret on this, but we do pay well above the National Living Wage, we do have great benefits and we offer fantastic careers. |
| "It really is a case of do people want to work in our industry? We are not seen always as a desirable place to work and I think that's the trick." | "It really is a case of do people want to work in our industry? We are not seen always as a desirable place to work and I think that's the trick." |