Looking to Hire Crew Members? Find Qualified Professionals with Brigad

Crew Members are usually found in restaurants, fast-food outlets, or hotel food & beverage (F&B) operations. In most cases, chain restaurants and fast-food operations employ Crew Member. 

When freelance Crew Members are engaged for short or long-term work, they are expected to seamlessly integrate into the existing operational framework of the establishment. Their responsibilities typically include:

• Cooking and Preparing Food: Freelance Crew Members may be assigned to work in the kitchen, where they are responsible for cooking and preparing a variety of dishes according to established recipes and standards. Their culinary skills are essential in delivering delicious and consistent food to customers.
• Serving Customers: Customer service is a fundamental aspect of the role. Freelance Crew Members interact directly with patrons, taking orders, serving meals, and ensuring that guests have a pleasant dining experience. Their friendly and attentive service contributes significantly to customer satisfaction.
• Keeping Restaurants Clean and Tidy: Maintaining cleanliness and orderliness in the restaurant is a shared responsibility. Crew Members, whether permanent or freelance, play a vital role in keeping the dining area, kitchen, and service areas spotless. This includes clearing tables, sanitising surfaces, and ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for guests.

Crew Members play an essential role in thousands of hospitality and fast-food operations. 

In short-term work, freelance Crew Members are expected to adapt quickly to the establishment's specific requirements and follow the established operating template diligently. 

Their contributions are instrumental in upholding the venue's reputation for quality food, exceptional service, and a clean, inviting environment.

Crew Members traditional hiring methods

Hiring crew members in London, whether for restaurants, retail, or other service industries, involves navigating a unique and competitive job market. Traditional hiring methods, while tried and tested, come with specific limitations in this vibrant city.

Local Newspaper Advertisements

Placing job ads in local newspapers has been a classic approach to attract local talent. It targets those who are likely to be looking for jobs in their vicinity.

Limitation: The reach of newspaper advertisements is increasingly limited due to the declining readership of print media. This method also fails to attract younger demographics who prefer digital job search platforms, limiting the diversity and size of the applicant pool.

Job Postings on Community Boards

Posting job ads on community boards in local cafes, libraries, or community centers is another traditional method. It aims to capture the attention of locals who might be seeking employment opportunities.

Limitation: Similar to newspaper ads, the reach is quite restricted, appealing only to those who frequent these community spots. This method also lacks the ability to target specific skills or experience levels, potentially leading to a mismatch between job requirements and applicant qualifications.

Walk-in Interviews

Encouraging potential candidates to come directly to the business for on-the-spot interviews is a common practice in the hospitality and retail sectors. It allows for immediate assessment of the candidate's suitability.

Limitation: This approach can be hit-or-miss, depending heavily on the foot traffic and the spontaneity of job seekers. It might not consistently yield the best candidates, especially if seeking specialized skills or high levels of experience.

Use of Temp Agencies

Temp agencies are often utilized to fill vacancies quickly, especially for seasonal peaks or to cover last-minute absences. They provide pre-screened candidates, reducing the initial time investment for employers.

Limitation: While convenient, temp agencies can be costly, with fees significantly impacting operational budgets. The workers provided may also lack commitment to the company's long-term success, potentially affecting team dynamics and customer service quality. Additionally, there's a risk of skill and culture mismatch, as the employer has less control over the selection process.

Word of Mouth and Employee Referrals

Leveraging existing employees' networks by encouraging them to refer friends or acquaintances for open positions is a common practice. It's based on the premise that good people know good people.

Limitation: Relying heavily on referrals can lead to a lack of diversity in the workplace, as people tend to refer individuals within their social or cultural circles. This method may also inadvertently promote nepotism, affecting morale and fairness in the recruitment process.

Looking to hire Crew Member for your kitchen ?

Hiring qualified crew members is essential to maintaining the level of service that customers anticipate from well-established and reputable brands.  

If you have not had much luck with job boards or the use of temp agencies, and candidates in the hospitality and catering sector are not rushing in, lack motivation, or have not got the experience or skills you are looking for, Brigad is here to provide a solution.

Publish short-term work offers on the Brigad app or website to interested independent freelance Crew Members and other hospitality professionals, who are ready to work and able to pick up short or long-term shifts and fill gaps in your staffing rota. 

With the Brigad business app (available for download via the App Store or Google Play) or website, you can be easily connected with the Crew Member your business needs.

To start with, simply download the Brigad Business app via the App Store or Google Play. Create an account and you can get started. 

Sign-up for free and post a mission corresponding to your needs for a Crew Member in under 3 minutes. Chances are that your mission will be accepted within a matter of hours by a qualified Crew Member. 

How to use Brigad when looking for a Crew Member ?

Restaurant, pub, bar, café, and hotel food & beverage (F&B) managers, owners, or operators looking to hire independent Crew Members or other hospitality professionals can easily create a mission using the Brigad app or website. Simply select the dates and times hours, days needed, the role needed, and add a description that details the requirements and expectations.

Your job offer, also known as a “mission” (the short or long-term shift for which you need filled), will be sent to only the most relevant, qualified, and fully vetted Crew Members who meet your criteria. Once one of them accepts the mission, you will be notified and put in contact.

The Crew Member will arrive on the day of the mission ready to work, as they will have received all the necessary information from your mission description to successfully complete the mission.

This means you can be confident in finding the right Crew Member to fulfil your business's operational needs.

No more wasting time selecting a profile from dozens, or even hundreds of options. Post a new mission on Brigad in less than 3 minutes, then just sit back and let the  algorithm handle the rest. Only the most relevant talents will receive your mission proposition, and the most motivated Crew Member will be the one to accept it.

Invoices are generated and payments are made automatically, simplifying the process for your business or organisation's finance team. This allows you to focus on running your busy restaurant, pub, bar, café, or hotel food & beverage (F&B) operation.

Need to hire Crew Members in a hurry? 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Post a mission on the Brigad business app in less than 3 minutes. Two thirds of missions are accepted in under 2 hours. Fill your staffing rotas efficiently, even in urgent, time-sensitive situations. Problem solved.

Benefits of working with Brigad when looking to hire Crew Members

Brigad provides a range of benefits for establishments like restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, and hotels, as well as catering venues and events in London, Birmingham, and Manchester, by facilitating connections with skilled Crew Members and other hospitality professionals.

A strict vetting process

The hospitality industry is too busy and fast-paced for people who aren’t serious and committed to the work. After a rigorous vetting process by our team of experts, only the most qualified Crew Members are offered access to the Brigad platform. 

As an owner, operator, or manager, you might worry about verifying the paperwork of the Crew Member who is coming to work for you. However, you don’t need to worry about any of that, as we handle all checks for you.

All profiles on the Brigad platform undergo a strict two-step vetting process, executed by both the app and the Brigad team. This thorough verification ensures you work with only the best independent, self-employed (inside HMRC IR35), or freelance Crew Member and other hospitality professionals. 

The backgrounds, IDs, employment history, and training of all Crew Members are verified to ensure they are reliable and experts in their field before they’re able to accept any missions on the Brigad app. This way, you can be 100% confident that the person is who they say they are and have a legal right to live and work in the UK.

Essential Soft Skills of Crew Members in the Brigad Community

• Customer Service Excellence: The ability to engage with guests warmly, understand their needs, and exceed their expectations is fundamental. This includes being attentive, responsive, and proactive in addressing guest inquiries and concerns.
• Effective Communication: Strong verbal communication skills are vital for clearly conveying information to guests and colleagues, understanding and executing instructions, and resolving conflicts or misunderstandings gracefully.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Crew members must work harmoniously with each other, often in fast-paced environments. This involves being supportive, adaptable, and willing to step into different roles as needed to ensure smooth operations.
• Flexibility and Problem-Solving: The hospitality sector is dynamic, with frequent changes and unexpected challenges. Crew members should be able to adapt quickly, think on their feet, and creatively solve problems to maintain service standards and guest satisfaction.

Only work with driven freelance professionals on Brigad

Freelance Crew Members and other hospitality professionals represent their own interests and build their own network of customers, which is why they are particularly reliable and motivated. So, you don’t have to worry about last-minute surprises, like a no-show an hour before a busy restaurant opens or a wedding feast needs to be cooked.

A dedicated assistance team

A member of the account management and customer experience will be assigned to you to provide support during your  first month on Brigad to make sure that you understand the features and are making the most of the platform. Should any problems arise, our responsive Assistance Team is available seven days a week to ensure that solutions are readily available for any situation that might be encountered.

Mission prices for Crew Members in the UK

All prices are dynamically calculated to consider tension rates, ensuring competitive pricing tailored to your specific requirements. 

The cost is determined by multiplying an hourly rate by the number of hours you need a Crew Member for. When you create a mission, you'll receive an instant quote. 

This is the fixed price you pay once a self-employed Crew Member accepts your mission, so there are no surprise costs or hidden charges.

A dynamic pricing means that costs are competitively calculated for each new mission. 

You have control over the pricing, allowing you to adjust it upwards if needed. This flexibility can enhance the likelihood of your mission being quickly accepted by talented independent hospitality and catering professionals in London and its surrounding areas.