With less than three months to go until millions of visitors descend on Edinburgh for August’s festival season, employers in the Scottish capital have begun recruiting for the thousands of temporary staff.
New analysis by temporary work marketplace Indeed Flex shows that demand for bar staff is especially strong. With temporary bar work paying an average of £12.62 per hour, those pulling pints for four four-hour shifts a week can pocket £807 during the four weeks of the Fringe.
Official data shows Edinburgh has the highest property costs in Scotland, and soaring inflation means a single person living in the city typically spends £896 per month, excluding rent.
Indeed Flex, which is an official sponsor of the 2024 Fringe, is working with many local employers to ensure adequate staffing.
Signature Group, which runs a string of bars and restaurants across Scotland, uses Indeed Flex to run its Edinburgh venues throughout the season.
Graeme Windsor, executive sous chef at Signature Group, commented: “We always prepare for August in a number of ways – and one is to recruit extra team members to help us cope with the sharp increase in footfall seen across the city.
“We need extra flexibility in our kitchens to cope with busy periods that can bring sudden surges of guests.
“By providing extra help to our permanent teams, we can protect their wellbeing while also ensuring we keep up our high standards for every customer.
“Using temps enables us to maximise our August revenue and support our existing team in a flexible way.”
Novo Constare, chief executive and co-founder of Indeed Flex, said: “Edinburgh comes alive during Festival season, but with the huge influx of visitors from around the world comes the need for local businesses to find extra hands to help keep everything running smoothly.
“Indeed Flex is proud to be sponsoring the 2024 Fringe, and our online marketplace will feature hundreds of temporary jobs across Edinburgh this August, including front of house and bar work that are essential to both festivals.“
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