By Liv Thomson

The Busiest Time of Year

Glasgow is well known across the UK for its hospitality. The industry, however, has been suffering recently, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the ongoing cost of living crisis.

As we approach the festive season, business across the hospitality sector is beginning to boom once more. Heather Bedford, who works in event coordination at the venue Platform, confirmed this.

Heather says she refers to this time of year as “silly season”, and made the shocking revelation that she is now fully booked at work until January. This is owing to corporate events and parties being held over the festive period. Bars, in particular, are expected to be very busy this year, following last year’s trend of Scottish pubs returning following the end of lockdown restrictions.

Stress among Students

In Scotland, 300,000 people work in the hospitality sector. Students, who make up a large majority of this industry, are feeling the effects of this increasingly busy time.

“We have open door policies [for staff] who are struggling with mental health…we point them in the right direction.”

Stephen Montgomery, Director of the Scottish Hospitality Group

In an interview, the Director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, Stephen Montgomery, spoke about the practices used by his employers. He cited “open door policies”, used to encourage staff to share their struggles with management in a safe and confidential manner, and stressed the importance of “promoting that positive atmosphere”.

Studies have made the link between feelings of burnout among student staff, and increased working hours. One such study out of the University of Strathclyde that this is particularly true at busy times of the year, such as Christmas. This can then have a knock-on effect on university studies, with lectures becoming harder to attend due to work and exhaustion.

The Importance of Good Employers

David Carson is the general manager of Platform, the events venue in Glasgow formerly known as The Arches. When asked whether students were increasing their hours in order to make ends meet, David had this to say:

“If [students] need time off for an exam, that’s fine. We’re very flexible.”

David Carson, General Manager at Platform

The Work/Study Balance

Flexible working is considered key among students, who have to strike a balance between work life and university studies. This can be incredibly challenging at times, and studies can sometimes suffer. General manager at Kitty O’Shea’s bar in the West End, Daniel, agrees with a flexible working approach for students. He says that his team are able to “pick up and drop” shifts as and when they need, to accommodate looming exams and assignments at university. He attributes this flexibility as one of the reasons why his student staff “love” working there, and why “morale is very high.”

Final Thoughts

It is clear that bars and venues within Glasgow are appreciative of their student staff. Students are being seen and valued by employers in this sector. This is incredibly importance for mental health, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic and given the stresses of the current economic climate.

Liv Thomson, UWS News.

Featured image and images courtesy of Liv Thomson. No changes were made to these images.

Follow Kitty O’Shea’s on social media here.

Follow Platform on social media here.