Results of FindMyPub.com’s ‘Freedom Day and beyond’ survey show promise for tenanted recruitment
A cross-section of our 25,000 strong databases completed the survey, with the results showing a positive and defiant approach from pub tenancy candidates in the continuation of their desire to run a pub.
Freedom Day and beyond – A post-Covid Pub Survey was created as a recruitment litmus test to understand the mood, motivations, and experiences of our applicants post the ‘Freedom Day’ lifting of restrictions.
A cross-section of our 25,000 strong databases completed the survey, with the results showing a positive and defiant approach from pub tenancy candidates in the continuation of their desire to run a pub.
In very positive news 96% of the candidates surveyed suggested that they were still looking to run a pub post-Covid. The remaining 4% all stated their search was on hold with none of those surveyed suggesting that they had decided to give up their search.
This is a huge result for our industry who have faced significant challenges, closures and suffered great losses over the period.
Agreement wise, Tenancy remained the agreement type of choice with 57% suggesting this option, leased agreements ran in at a close second with Self Employed (SEM agreements) not far behind in third place.
It does seem that Covid has played a part in reducing the number of finances an applicant is willing to invest, when asked if their pre covid investment levels had decreased there was only 2% between the respondents’ choices with 38% claiming their budgets had decreased and 40% suggesting they had not – the remaining percentage suggested their investments levels remained the same. A key indicator that a flexible in-going cost is going to be crucial to maintain recruitment levels.
Application preferences were also under the spotlight, with 60% of all respondents suggesting they wanted to be able to apply for pubs online – with FindMyPub.com being the top choice for applicants to view pubs, with 51% of applicants stating that was their go-to for sourcing an opportunity, pub companies own websites came in second with 26% and hospitality publications coming in third with 8% of the vote.
Unsurprisingly location is still king, with 85% of the survey results when asked what the key attractor for them is when seeing a pub advertised, this was followed swiftly by the cost of entry and trading style.
A huge 82% of applicants stated that since Covid, a Pub with outdoor space was essential!
Rachael Nixon, MD of FindMyPub.com comments; “Whilst our data clearly shows a significant amount of pub applications being processed, it was difficult for us to establish some of the other knock-on effects, specifically around desire and budgets from this Intel alone. The results show promise and indicate that the challenges faced and damage to our industry over the last 18 months plus has not dampened the spirit of our future publicans nor their perceived value of a career in this industry. One of the key responses for me was when asked if another lockdown would deter them from staying on this course, 61% said no – which shows incredible commitment and resilience – traits we can all agree are needed to aid our recovery”
The full results of the survey will be published on the FindMyPub.com LinkedIn page in the coming days.