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As a bit of a labour management nut, I often find myself frustrated by the people-approach of many operators across our industry, bemoaning the fact that we are amateurs when we should be professionals.   I worry that the...

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February brings 3.5% uplift to sales
February brings 3.5% uplift to sales

The latest sales data from S4labour has revealed that hospitality sales were up 3.5% overall in February, compared to the same month last year.   This uplift was driven by sales in London, which saw an increase of 8.5%...

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There is a myth in our industry that being understaffed is the biggest challenge to sales growth, and that is the missed opportunity. But the truth is that, while we all want to have the right number of staff, the bigger...

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The planned increase to minimum wage has made a substantial change to the differentials between young people. From April next year, over 21s will see a minimum wage of £11.44, whilst under-18s will receive £6.40.  There is...

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Priced out: The struggles facing operators in wake of increasing NLW This year, there's been a 11.5% surge in the annual minimum wage, once the increases for lower age workers are added into the mix. It's left the industry...

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Closing restaurants and rooms in January   We have had several debates about whether we close our restaurants and bedrooms for a few days in January. This is a big decision for us, as our philosophy is to be open all...

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December brings an 11.1% boost to sales
December brings an 11.1% boost to sales

December 2023 vs. December 2022 Recent data released from S4labour shows an 11.1% increase in overall sales in December, compared to the same month in 2022. In London, sales were up 14.2%, whilst areas outside of London saw...

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Maintaining better habits in hospitality  Two weeks ago, I wrote about changing behavioural habits in the industry. Operators have their sights set on growing productivity and engagement amongst their teams with an urgency...

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Denver Bars
Denver Bars

Case Study How Denver Bars use S4labour & ICR TouchDenver Bars OverviewDenver Bars are popular boozers on Brixton Hill where we pride ourselves on friendly service and a great atmosphere. With DJs from Friday to Sunday...

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NLW increases 9.8%, but true cost is 11.5%
NLW increases 9.8%, but true cost is 11.5%

According to data from S4labour, the 9.8% increase to NLW announced yesterday by the Chancellor will mean an increase of 11.5% to costs for operators when considering the weighted impact of age distribution in the...

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Malvern Inns – HLS case study
Malvern Inns – HLS case study

Case Study How Malvern Inns use both S4labour & High Level Software Malvern Inns Overview Serving up brilliant hospitality since 2010. Stylish locations with dedicated teams offering delicious food, a great selection of...

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Opinion piece  by Alastair Scott It seems to me that one of the best skills to have under your belt in hospitality is the ability to recognise the need for change, and then practice and embed new habits. As an industry, I...

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Hospitality sales see first decline since March
Hospitality sales see first decline since March

The latest figures for October reveal the industry experienced a 1.4% decrease in sales overall, compared to the same period last year, according to data from S4labour.   This decline was driven by sites outside of London,...

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The effects of ‘No-shows’
The effects of ‘No-shows’

The latest figures from Zonal, in partnership with hospitality data and insights firm CGA by NIQ, confirm that 2023’s no-show rate has returned to post-lockdown levels. Doubling from 6% in September 2022 to 12%, these...

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Opinion Piece by Alastair Scott Nowadays, the integration of tech in hospitality has become synonymous with success. I talk to companies who mistakenly think they are best-in-class, simply because they use a software...

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How should we be rostering our teams at Christmas?   Christmas is a welcome interlude between the depths of November and January. It is short-lived, but we typically have two objectives. First, to give the customer a...

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Tempted to template?
Tempted to template?

Using templates to rota hospitality teams The use of rota templates in the hospitality industry can be divisive. They speed up the rota-writing process, but the risk is that the team become lazy and merely load a template...

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Opinion Piece by Alastair Scott There are a few causes of the lack of improvement in UK productivity. Some research sites a lack of investment. Other research released recently suggests that working from home causes an 18%...

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Thought leadership by Alastair Scott When I ran All Bar One, one of the disciplines instilled in us was to send out a weekly e-mail to our team. We did it on Sunday to show to our teams that they weren’t alone on the day,...

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The Chestnut Group
The Chestnut Group

Case StudyHow The Chestnut Group streamlined their people management Company Name: The Chestnut Group   Chestnut OverviewWinners of this year’s Pub and Bar Award, Chestnut boast a collection of beautiful East Anglian pubs....

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Nisa Partners with S4labour
Nisa Partners with S4labour

Market-leading rota, people and payroll provider, S4labour, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Nisa, the UK’s leading convenience retailer.  As the sole preferred people management partner, Nisa retailers...

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August sales up 3.2% led by London
August sales up 3.2% led by London

This month, overall sales were up 3.2% compared to last year, led by a strong August for London, according to the latest S4labour sales data.  The Capital saw a solid increase of 9.9% across the board, with food and drink...

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Women’s World Cup Final Boosts Pub Sales
Women’s World Cup Final Boosts Pub Sales

Although the Lionesses didn’t bring it home, they certainly brought in some sales, with figures telling a story of celebration.   Despite the early start, last Sunday saw the Women’s World Cup final drive a 10% increase in...

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June sales see a 7.8% increase led by London
June sales see a 7.8% increase led by London

In June hospitality sales saw the highest year-on-year increase so far in 2023 with a 7.8% uplift, according to the latest S4labour data.   This spike is largely due to London sales, which were 15.7% ahead of 2022 levels,...

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Ben Hood joins S4labour as non-executive director
Ben Hood joins S4labour as non-executive director

Ben Hood, co-founder and former chief executive of Fourth, has joined the board of S4labour as non-executive director. Hood joins S4labour after 20 years at Fourth, with immediate effect. His appointment is part of the next...

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Propel Women’s Conference: 5 Key Takeaways 
Propel Women’s Conference: 5 Key Takeaways 

Recently, S4labour had the honour of participating in the Propel Women’s Conference which celebrated women’s resilience, strength, and limitless potential within each of them. This was an inspiring event that beautifully...

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A New Guide to Holiday Management in Hospitality
A New Guide to Holiday Management in Hospitality

When holidays approach, it’s easy to get lost thinking about footfall and revenue, without laying the groundwork to grow both of these effectively.  During busy periods, having the right amount of staff on shift at the...

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The Coronation of King Charles III 
The Coronation of King Charles III 

Hospitality sales grew 14% in the week of the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022 when compared to the preceding week. Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd of June were bank holidays, which gave Brits a 4-day weekend through until Sunday 5th,...

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March Sales Figures Show 1.8% Drop Year-on-Year
March Sales Figures Show 1.8% Drop Year-on-Year

Overall March sales show a decline of 1.8% compared to 2022, albeit with a 6.4% uplift in London despite rail strike disruption. Rising prices continue to deter consumer spending, meaning like-for-like growth has slowed...

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Oowee Vegan
Oowee Vegan

Case StudyS4labour helps fast-food restaurant Oowee VeganCompay Name: Oowee VeganBusiness Type: Multi SiteDate: December 2022 Oowee Overview Oowee has been a customer at S4labour for over a year. Their business is split...

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Nisa
Nisa

Case StudyNisa Retailer Rav Garcha has complete visibility of costs with s4labourCompany: NisaBusiness Type: Convenience StoreDate: Feb 2023 Nisa Overview Retailer Rav Garcha operates 4 convenience stores across the West...

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Boardman Community Pubs
Boardman Community Pubs

Case StudyBoardman Community PubsCompay Name: Boardman Community PubsBusiness Type: Mulit SiteDate: Jan 2018Boardman Community Pubs OverviewBoardman Community Pubs joined S4labour in 2022, with 7 pubs across the UK, 5 being...

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Costcutter
Costcutter

Case StudyMulti-site operator Peter Patel gets the quickest payroll with S4labourCompany: CostcutterBusiness Type: Convenience StoreDate: March 2023 Costcutter OverviewWinner of Convenience Chain of the Year in 2021,...

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SPAR Retailer
SPAR Retailer

Case StudyS4labour's time and attendance is a gamechanger for SPAR, Minster LovellCompany: SPAR, Minster LovellBusiness Type: Convenience StoreDate: Feb 2023 SPAR Overview SPAR Minster Lovell is a family business that was...

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Super 8
Super 8

Case StudySuper 8's Journey with S4labourCompay Name: Super 8 Restaurateur Ledged, Brian Hannon Super 8 OverviewLondon-based group Super 8 consists of three restaurants: Smoking Goat, Kiln and Brat, which have been going...

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Warner’s Retail
Warner’s Retail

Case StudyS4labour move Warner's Retail to the digital ageCompany: Warner's RetailBusiness Type: Convenience StoreDate: Feb 2023 Warner's Retail Overview Warner’s Retail is an independently owned group of food stores,...

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Tossed
Tossed

Case StudyTossed Saved Labour Spend by using S4labourCompay Name: TossedBusiness Type: Mulit SiteDate: 2018   Tossed Overview Tossed is a healthy fast-food chain found in central London, with 12 outlets. They serve...

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February Like-for-Likes Show Little Growth
February Like-for-Likes Show Little Growth

February sales in Hospitality show little growth, as year-on-year increase sits at 1.6%, despite low 2022 statistics that were affected by Omicron. Like-for-like growth has slowed significantly throughout 2023 so far....

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4 Ideas to Inspire your Valentine’s Day Offering
4 Ideas to Inspire your Valentine’s Day Offering

Valentine’s Day is a big one for the sector. With everyone heading out to bars and restaurants to enjoy some quality time with loved ones, it is one of the busiest and most profitable periods for Hospitality. In 2021,...

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Be Your Best – A Reason to be Optimistic in 2023

As we go into 2023, it would be easy to begin the year on the back foot. There are significant head winds facing not just our industry – the whole country feels like it’s in the weeds. Next year we will go into battle with...

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Hospitality sales bounced this month
Hospitality sales bounced this month

Hospitality sales bounced this month with an increase of 3.2% across the sector. Both London and non-London sites saw wet-led growth, totaling a 5.5% growth which was to be expected as many poured into pubs to catch the...

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What We Learnt at Propel
What We Learnt at Propel

Last week I attended Propel’s quarterly multi club conference, ‘New Ways of Working’ to catch the latest industry insights. Unsurprisingly, the consensus swayed closer to concern than confidence for the sector’s future....

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Hospitality Sales Down for Second Consecutive Month
Hospitality Sales Down for Second Consecutive Month

October marks the second month in a row of a significant drop in Hospitality sales. Compared to the same period in 2021 sales were down 7.1% (September -6.9%), this is despite a better trading week over half term of -1.5%....

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Shocking September for Hospitality
Shocking September for Hospitality

Hospitality sales faltered last month with like-for-like turnover down by 6.9% versus the same period in 2021. The biggest contributor to this figure was food sales, which saw a drop of 12.7% this year. London saw an...

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48 Hours at Casual Dining
48 Hours at Casual Dining

Casual Dining 2022. Coined the definitive event for publicans and restauranteurs. After exploring this labyrinth of 200+ incredible suppliers for two days, I’m compelled to say it lives up to the name. Renowned for its...

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Get to Grips With Your Daily Labour Spend

Following significant challenges over the last two years, hospitality is endeavouring to bounce back as restriction-free trading sees a new dawn for consumer demand. However, significant challenges are well documented, such...

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The Power of Integrated Hospitality Tech
The Power of Integrated Hospitality Tech

The world of hospitality tech is vast. There is a seemingly never-ending list of technologies that can fit into our businesses to help do things “better” than before. Over the last 10 years we have been spoilt for choice....

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Top 4 Payroll Jobs to be Done By FY23

FYE is a brutal time of year for payrollers. It is the most common time in any business cycle for head office payroll employees to hand in their notice, you can check out the jobs sites now and see just how many Payroll...

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Top 4 Payroll Jobs to be Done By FY23

FYE is a brutal time of year for payrollers. It is the most common time in any business cycle for head office payroll employees to hand in their notice, you can check out the jobs sites now and see just how many Payroll...

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Employee Profile vs. User Profile

A User Profile grants access to the management and funtionality side of the s4labour system. A persons user level will determine what they can see and do. A user profile will typically have a Username assigned to it, rather...

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Mid-August Sees High Like-for-Likes at 7.7%

As we start to enter mid-August, S4labour’s research shows there to be high like-for-like figures at 7.7% as well as a gradual increase in week-on-week sales figures. Last week’s food sales were up 16% compared to the same...

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Our Staffing Challenge

The staffing challenge in the hospitality industry, probably amongst others, is a fascinating challenge for both our industry and the government.  There are several big questions we need to understand in order to determine...

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Hospitality Sales Down 9%

According to analysis from S4labour, the people, productivity and payroll software provider for hospitality, like-for-likes fell last week by 9.6% compared to the same week in 2019. Drink sales were down 17.7%, with food sales down 0.8% compared to the same week in 2019.

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Technical Updates – HMRC employer bulletin

CJRS Update  For periods in July 2021, Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants will cover 70% of employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,187.50. In August and September 2021, this will then reduce...

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Revving Up the Engine

When I go on holiday for two weeks, I always find the first day back pretty tough. Having switched off my mind a little for that period, I find getting back into work on day one really hard, so much so, that I wonder if it...

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Half Term Like-for-Like Sales Up by 11.5%

Half term presented a great opportunity for families to explore hospitality venues last week. This helped to boost sales by 11.5% compared to the same half term in 2019.   The industry saw a strong performance in food...

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Indoor Re-Opening Sales Figures

Hospitality like-for-likes sales UP 9% on indoor re-opening week. In the first full week since operators were able to serve guests indoors since November 2020, hospitality sales were up 9% compared to the same week in 2019....

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Re-Opening Sales Figures – Week 4

Hospitality sales continue to tumble, DOWN 23% week on week. Hospitality sales continued their decline last week, sliding 23% compared to the previous week. While roughly half of sites remain closed, those that did trade...

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Re-Opening Sales Figures – Week 3

Hospitality week on week sales down 1.2%. According to analysis from S4labour, last week’s hospitality sales were down 1.2% on the previous week. However, the decline was driven from weak performance in London, where week...

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Re-opening Sales Figures – Week 2

Hospitality Like-for-likes down 10.5%, with 70% of sites trading at similar or above 2019 levels. According to analysis of more than 150 organisations that use S4labour’s workforce management software, there is little...

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Hospitality Re-Opening Week Sales Figures

Hospitality like-for-like sales up 9.1% but 45% of sites remain closed resulting in total sales decline of 25%. According to an analysis of more than 150 organisations that use S4labour’s workforce management software,...

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9 Things To Know About The New Tax Year

Personal Tax Allowance change from £12,500 to £12,570; basic rate 20% bandwidth £1 to £37,700.  New employees on RTI submission before 2nd March 2021 are eligible for furlough from 1st May 2021. From 1st July 2021 you will...

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Covid Hits Hospitality Sales for £89 billion 

As the grim anniversary of the beginning of the first lockdown approaches, analysis from S4labour shows that the hospitality industry lost just over £89 billion in revenue through the full year since March 23rd 2020, when the hospitality industry was first instructed to close. This is equivalent to 68.9% of annual revenue, representing an average decline of half a £million per site across the U.K. 

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Important changes to NLW and NMW

Important changes to NLW and NMW National living wage increases have become a metronomic feature of the financial year, and while this year's increase is nothing untypical, both Furlough arrangements and the changes in age...

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Re-Opening Resources

As hospitality slowly reopens, we have created some helpful resources to ensure you are ready for a high intensity return to amazing hospitality.

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Training in 2021

Training in 2021 It's been a strange year for everyone, particularly a lot of us in hospitality and every area of our businesses have been turned upside down by Covid. As we start to see some light at the end of the tunnel...

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Hospitality suffers 540,000 jobs in 2020

Hospitality Suffers 540,000 job losses in 2020 and is on the verge of losing a significant amount more.There are many industries that have suffered throughout 2020, but hospitality has been near uniquely placed at the...

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The True Cost of Furlough

Furlough costs the UK Hospitality industry in excess of £542 million a month during lockdown - The True Cost of Furlough Furlough has been a lifeline for so many businesses in the hospitality sector and beyond, however...

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2020 Full Hospitality Sales Report

2020 saw revenue decline of 51.38% overall, characterised mainly by a 98.3% decline in Q2 driven by lockdown 1. In the first two months of the year, prior to the effects of the pandemic, revenue growth was 6.6%. As pubs and...

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Dec 2020 sales to date

 Analysis from S4labour shows that sales are down 64.3% year on year for Tier 2 venues, for December to date. As a result of the restrictions places on hospitality, food is down 55.3% and drink is down a significant 72.5%....

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Tenzo & S4labour – covid sales effect

Joint Research Between S4labour and Tenzo identifies 98% rise in takeaway sales, but has little impact on overall decline of hospitality like for likes.  15.12.2020 Joint research from hospitality software providers...

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Sales by Tier, coming out of lockdown 2.0

Tiers 1,2 and 3 down  30%, 39.2% and 77.8% respectively. Analysis from S4labour shows that sales in Tier 1, 2 ad 3 venues are down 30%, 39.2% and 77.8% respectively year on year.  As we expected, the tougher lockdown...

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The Future of Hospitality

The future of hospitality – we are part of the solution and not the problem by Alastair Scott I am surprised the quote from Mark Twain of: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics” has not been used...

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December sales forecast

S4labour downgrades hospitality sales forecast in December to -45% in wake of toughened tier restrictions. S4labour have undertaken research to help operators forecast sales as lockdown 2.0 comes to an end and England and...

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Lockdown 2

Take-away sales during lockdown 2 Analysis from S4labour shows that just 25% of sites have stayed open after lockdown, with 75% closing during the first week of lockdown. There is little variation between rural and urban...

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Extended Furlough

Extended Furlough   In Propel's Friday’s Opinion I published our guidance on the Job Support Scheme (JSS) that was due to start on the 1st November but mentioned that the government website would publish further...

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The effect of the curfew on hourly sales

Analysis from S4labour shows that hospitality sales are 18.27% below what they were before the curfew, comparing week 37 & 38 to week 40 & 41 (before and after curfew). When we look at the 18.27% decrease broken...

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Last week’s sales like for like %

Analysis from S4labour shows that hospitality sales from last week were down 12.8% compared to last year, however when we take a closer look, sales in dry-led venues are up 16% on last year, yet wet-led venues are down 40%....

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How to keep labour costs firmly in hand

As published in BII  New normal, same old same old   2020 has brought a wave of challenges, some expected (April’s minimum wage increase), others less so; who could have foreseen the COVID-19 pandemic? This...

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Hospitality Like For Likes bounce back in August

Analysis from S4labour shows that hospitality like for like sales in August were flat, down just 0.4% compared to the same month last year. The Eat Out To Help Out scheme had the desired effect with those sites that were...

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Hospitality Like For Likes bounce back in August

Analysis from S4labour shows that hospitality like for like sales in August were flat, down just 0.4% compared to the same month last year. The Eat Out To Help Out scheme had the desired effect with those sites that were...

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Labour Ratios

S4labour release labour percentages since lockdown ended  Short story  Industry Labour ratios increase by 10% in first month of trading as operators get a handle on new ways of operating and lower sales levels. Analysis...

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Brat opens pop-up restaurant

Last month we spoke to Brian Hannon from Super 8 restaurants about how he transformed an outdoor space into Brat, in just a few weeks...

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Eat Out Sales Figures

Week on week sales jump 20.5% on the back of Eat Out Scheme. Analysis from S4labour shows a leap in like-for-likes sales of 20.5% on last week. The figures also show that last weeks like-for-like sales surpassed the same...

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Impact of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

Eat out to help out sees sales increase by 70.9% over the first three days of the week. Sales numbers taken from S4labour have shown that the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has proved hugely successful and a welcome boost to...

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Re-opening Sales Figures

Like-for-like sales down 30% year-on-year in first full week of trading since regulations ease: Last week we reported that like-for-like sales were down 33.6% year-on-year in first weekend of trading since regulations...

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Latest on the CJRS by Richard Hartley

Following a number of updates from the government on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) we have updated our advice and want to highlight a few of these points and explain what they mean for operators. Portal...

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Furlough pay by Richard Hartley

The government released new guidelines yesterday on how to handle furlough pay (see link below for full details). We are creating a furlough pay type for S4labour to support our customers through this challenging time but I...

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Propel launches BeatTheVirus campaign

Propel has launched BeatTheVirus to help operators through the covid-19 crisis. We have teamed up with Propel Multi Club conference series partners to offer the sector their expertise. Partners will offer more general...

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February 2020 Like For Like Sales Figures

Like for like sales figures jump 4.4% for hospitality providers in February.   According to analysis of more than 1,500 sites using S4labour software, overall like for like sales were up 4.4% in February 2020, compared...

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March Shows and Events

During March, S4labour will be at multiple events, showcasing the system and speaking to existing and future customers. We would love to catch up with you and show you what's new. We will be manning stands on various dates,...

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January 2020 Like For Like Sales Figures

Like for like sales figures bounce 5.5% for hospitality providers in January.   According to analysis of more than 1,500 sites using S4labour software, overall like for like sales were up 5.5% in January 2020, compared...

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Why Training Matters In Hospitality

Getting people to change the way they do things is no easy task, often a simple change feels impossible. It can be easy for us as leaders to see the problem and get frustrated when others can’t. Similarly, we get annoyed...

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2019 Like For Like Sales Figures

Like for like sales figures up 1.7% for hospitality providers in 2019 compared to 2018.   According to analysis of more than 1,500 sites using S4labour software, like for like sales in 2019 were up 1.7%, compared to...

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December 2019 Sales Figures

-Like for like sales figures flatline for hospitality providers in December 2019.   According to analysis of more than 1,500 sites using S4labour software, overall like for like sales were static in December 2019,...

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Advice for a Successful Christmas

The festive period is a bustling time of year for hospitality businesses. It's not just an opportunity to boost your sales, providing customers with exceptional service during December is a sure-fire way to drive repeat...

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November Sales Figures

Like for like sales figures grow 6% for hospitality providers in November 2019. According to analysis of more than 1,500 sites using S4labour software, overall like for like sales grew by 6.0% in November 2019 compared with...

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October Sales Figures

Like for like sales figures grow 1.1% for hospitality providers in October 2019.According to analysis of more than 1,500 restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels and cafes that use S4labour software, sales of both food and drink...

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Why are the small companies more successful than big ones?

Why are the small companies more successful than big ones?   In the hospitality sector the progressive small companies are outperforming the large ones to a significant extent.While of course the hospitality sector is just as much about site economics as scale economics, I have long puzzled about why this is the case. As a […]

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July Sales Figures

  5.4% rise in food and drink sales in July 2019.   According to analysis of more than 100 restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels and cafes that use S4labour software, sales of both food and drink were up 5.4% in July 2019 compared to July 2018.   Both wet and dry led operations saw positive like […]

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June Sales Figures

  3.3% fall in like for like hospitality sales in June 2019.   According to analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4labour software, sales of both food and drink across the sector took a hit this June. Tough trading condition coupled with lower temperatures, higher levels of rainfall and being compared to the […]

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May Sales Figures

Drink sales drive a 1% rise in sales for hospitality revenues in May 2019.   According to analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4labour software, a spike in sales at drink focused venues drove an overall 1% rise in sales across the sector. The latest sales figures show a resilient bounce back from […]

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April Sales Figures

0.7% Fall in Sales in April Despite Good Easter Weather   According to analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4labour software, operators had slightly weaker sales than in the same month the previous year. Whilst the first quarter of 2019 had seen resilient figures for both food and drink, A sunny Easter bank […]

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Benefits of PS4payroll

Payroll For Hospitality Providers Data from S4Labour directly feeds PS4payroll; reducing time, effort, and any potential for error. There’s no need to collate, migrate, or manipulate data. Payroll, pensions, and payments are all completed without hassle or stress.   Payroll data feeds from the S4Labours  scheduling and HR functions, so your team are paid right […]

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March Sales Figures

Buoyant Sales performance for Hospitality Operators In March 2019.   According to an analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4Labour software, operators had strong sales during March 2019, with food sales and drink sales up in both dry-led and in wet-let sites.   Going into April’s annual National Price Hike Day and an […]

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Propel Multi Club – What We Learnt (Part 2)

Following on from the previous post about the March Propel Multi Club event, we have continued to consider what lessen could be learnt form the speakers and the people we met. Part 2 – The sector is changing and quality is key Against a backdrop of media reports that some sectors are currently suffering, it […]

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Propel Multi Club – What We Learnt (Part 1)

What a success the March Propel Multi Club was this year! The team from Catton Hospitality had a great day speaking to a spectrum of people and were proud to be one of the event sponsors. Taking to the stage this year were a variety of industry experts, each with serious pedigree in their fields. […]

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February Sales Figures

Buoyancy in the hospitality sector, according to recent figures from Catton Hospitality. According to an analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4labour software, operators bounced back from the January blues to see strong sales figures in February 2019 compared with like for like figures from February 2018.    Overall, sites achieved an encouraging […]

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Another exciting opportunity to join the Catton team

As we continue to expand, we are recruiting for a Developer in addition to four other roles. The successful candidate will join the in-house development team at our Banbury headquarters in creating and maintaining cutting edge labour management software for the hospitality industry. Please see full details for this and the other roles below. We […]

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January Sales Figures

According to an analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4Labour software, operators faced challenging condition during the month of January. Against the back drop of Dry January, Blue Monday and Veganuary, there was a slight 0.9% drop in like-for-likes sales. Following on from a strong Christmas period, wet-led venues bore the brunt of […]

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We’re Recruiting – Four Great Opportunities to Join Catton Hospitality

Due to our continued success we are currently looking for positive, professional and fun people to join us! We have four new vacancies: Product Manager Business Manager – Hotel & Specialist Product Manager – Forecasting/Reporting Training & Implementation Manager – Customer Success The full job descriptions for these positions can be found below. If you […]

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Top Tips for a Successful Dry January

After an indulgent festive period, many will aim to kick-start a healthier lifestyle and limit their alcohol intake for “Dry January”. Studies estimate that over 4 million people plan to stop drinking for the first month of 2019. A cut back on spending and calories from customers makes it a difficult time of year for […]

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Impressive December Sales for S4Labour Customers

December was another excellent month for operators. Following strong November sales, December like-for-likes were up 4.5%, according to an analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4Labour software. Wet-led venues enjoyed a 3.9% boost in sales, thanks to a 6.5% increase in food sales. Meanwhile, food-focused businesses were the biggest winners overall with a […]

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Top Tips- Making the Most of the Festive Season

Christmas is the “most wonderful time of year” for hospitality. After quieter Autumn trading, the festive season brings a surge in demand and a chance to drive repeat custom. The festive atmosphere marks an increase in footfall and a boost to profits. The best operators will exploit this further to maximise revenue in preceding months. […]

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Strong Growth in November Sales for S4Labour Customers

November was an excellent month for hospitality, as like-for-like sales were up by 4.7% compared with 2017 levels- according to a study of over 100 hospitality organisations that use S4Labour scheduling, HR and Payroll software. Drink sales were the main driver behind the strong results; the hospitality industry saw a 6.5% increase on 2017’s levels, […]

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What we Learned at the Propel Autumn Conference

Recently, we were lucky enough to sponsor the Multi Club Conference, the latest in a series of exceptional Propel events. This year’s autumn conference was filled with enlightening talks from a variety of speakers across the hospitality industry. It was a pleasure to spend the day with passionate leaders who genuinely care about what they […]

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Dip in October Sales for UK Hospitality

Recent growth in UK hospitality revenues has ceased as October brought a 1% dip in average sales, according to our latest research. Analysis of over 100 organisations that use S4Labour software found the decline was driven by lower food sales, with operators typically seeing a 2% fall. Following a summer of high spending, its likely […]

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The Labour Misconception

The labour misconception by Alastair Scott Our CEO, Alastair, highlights the tough period ahead for the hospitality industry. He reflects on “Worrying times”, an article written by Ann Elliott, chief executive of Elliotts, a leading integrated marketing agency in the hospitality and leisure sector. Ann Elliott’s recent article in Propel’s Friday Opinion series was a […]

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Rise in September Sales

Food sales drive rise in September sales for S4 Labour customers Like-for-like sales in September were up by 0.5% compared with 2017 levels, according to a study of over 100 hospitality organisations that use S4Labour scheduling and HR software. Food sales were the driving force behind this rise as these operators saw an average 3.5% increase across their […]

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Top Tips – Efficient Sunday Lunch

Top Tips for Efficient Sunday Lunch Service At this time of year, people are seeking comforting food in a cosy atmosphere. Autumn brings about a high demand for Sunday lunches and this can be critical to overall profitability. Here’s our top tips for an efficient Sunday lunch service. Staffing up the curve We often speak […]

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Top Tips – Driving Sales

At S4Labour we are often approached by operators who ask for help controlling costs in their venues. While we can certainly oblige in this, an often overlooked yet equally significant factor in promoting the overall health of a hospitality business is driving increased sales. Here are our top tips. Forecast Sales to Deploy Efficiently  Avoiding […]

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August Sales Soar for S4Labour Customers

August was another excellent month for S4Labour customers, and the wider UK hospitality industry, our latest research has found. Like for like sales were up on average 3.9% compared to 2017’s revenues, as businesses across all sectors and trading styles enjoyed an increase in both wet and dry takings.  Drink sales were the main driver […]

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Top Tips – Preparing for the Sales Downturn

Recent months have been hugely positive for the UK hospitality industry. Our own analysis revealed that, bolstered by fine weather and the World Cup, average June revenues were up 5.4% on 2017. This followed equally impressive May trading and will mean many operators are heading into August feeling flush. As pleasant as it would be […]

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Quieter July for UK Hospitality

Following a superb early summer, July was a quieter month for UK hospitality.   May and June both saw like for like sales up in excess of 5%, but this rising trend has been arrested, according to our latest research. Analysis of over 100 organisations using our S4Labour software across all industry sectors found on average […]

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What We Learned At Propel Multi Club Summer Conference

We were privileged to sponsor the Propel Multi Club Summer Conference that took place a couple of weeks ago. The day presented a range of insightful talks from industry leaders and entrepreneurial talent, whilst the evening offered a chance for networking with peers, new and old. Exploring untapped markets, expanding at carefully considered rates, and […]

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Great British Pub Awards Nominations for Eight S4Labour Customers

No fewer than eight venues using S4Labour have been nominated as finalists across six categories for the Great British Pub Awards 2018.  The latest round of judging has now been completed, and representatives from the eight venues will now take their place at the prestigious awards night in September, hoping to scoop category wins ranging […]

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Impressive June Sales for S4Labour Customers

June was a superb month for sales for S4Labour customers, our latest analysis has found.  Research into over 100 organisations across all industry sectors revealed that average like for like revenues were up 5.4%. Recent fine weather and the start of the World Cup are likely factors in the increase, with drink sales 6.7% and food sales […]

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Wake Up and Smell the Better Labour Deployment

S4Labour is equally effective across all styles of hospitality business.  We recently rolled out S4Labour into BEAR, a fresh hybrid concept where chic cafe meets lively bar with a side order of delicious home-cooked food. BEAR, who recently opened their third venue, have grand plans for expansion, and will use S4Labour to provide the foundations […]

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Top Tips for World Cup Success

Nothing captures the imagination of the British public quite like the World Cup. The month-long festival of football – inevitably bringing disappointment in England and delight for fans in other parts of the UK – never fails to create a sustained party atmosphere. The potential for hospitality operators to capitalise is huge, especially those in […]

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Excellent May Trading for S4Labour Customers

May was an excellent month for the UK hospitality industry with like for like sales across the industry up 5% on 2017 levels, our latest research has found.  Analysis of over 100 organisations using our S4Labour scheduling and HR software revealed that strong drink sales – likely bolstered by fine weather and the Royal Wedding […]

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Staffing for Fine Weather – Our Advice

After a winter that seemed to last a lifetime, with Artic conditions punishing hospitality operators well into March, spring is finally here. Britain is basking in warm, sunny weather and the fine days are set to last into the weekend, giving the industry a golden chance to make proverbial hay. But simply throwing open the […]

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High Profile New Clients Drive S4Labour Growth

S4Labour is leading workforce management software for the hospitality industry. Since 2011, its innovative visual analysis of hourly sales data, taken direct from EPoS integrations, has allowed operators to optimise staff deployment, resulting in lower costs and increased sales. The feature-rich package also significantly reduces administrative time for its users. The fully-integrated HR module, covering […]

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What We’ve Done to Ensure GDPR Compliance

On May 25th, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect. The new laws oblige businesses to amend the way they interact with data in a world with an increasingly technological outlook.  As such, we have reviewed, audited, and documented our processes, and have made appropriate changes. How the GDPR affects S4Labour and its users.  […]

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S4Labour Clients Scoop Publican Awards

The champagne corks were popping for two S4Labour customers, who claimed category wins as the prestigious Publican Awards last night.  Seafood Pub Company, who manage twelve sites in the North West of England, saw off stiff competition to secure the coveted Best Food Offer prize. They pride themselves on an ethos of sourcing quality local produce […]

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“We Couldn’t Have Done it Without S4Labour” – Life & Soul Case Study

Life & Soul is a multi-site hospitality operator based in Cheshire. Its directors previously ran the DV8 cocktail bars brand and following the sale of two sites last year established Life & Soul as a new entity. The company has flourished since, with its Rumba Macclesfield venue claiming the Best Turnaround prize at the prestigious […]

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What We Learned at the Propel Multi-Club March Conference

Last Wednesday we were lucky enough to sponsor the Propel Multi-Club March 2018 Conference. With a line-up of industry experts delivering talks on a variety of topics, we were eager to hear what they had to say. The talks were of a high quality, with speakers combining their experiences with opinion on the current market […]

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S4Labour Featured in Propel’s Friday Opinion

S4Labour CEO Alastair Scott was featured in the latest edition of the always excellent “Friday Opinion” series of articles published by Propel Info, one of UK hospitality’s most respected institutions. In response to a previous piece written by the Thai Leisure Group’s James Hacon, Alastair discussed the challenges and opportunities that define the burgeoning relationship […]

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February Like for Likes Up for S4Labour Customers

Analysis of over 100 organisations using S4Labour showed positive sales growth for the majority of operators last month.  Our latest research into revenues at operators across all sectors of hospitality revealed an average increase in sales of 0.2% on February 2017 levels.  This was primarily driven by wet-led businesses, which enjoyed on average a 4.8% […]

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First Class Multi-Site Operators Join S4Labour

2018 has already seen a number of superb multi-site operators begin using our industry-leading S4Labour workforce management and HR software.  Increasingly, business leaders are recognising the value our systems bring them to reduce costs, increase sales and service levels, and improve processes, and are eager to come on board.  Our newest clients include Butcombe Brewery‘s 24-strong […]

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Our Advice On How To Fall In Love With Valentine’s Day

Hospitality venues can look forward to Valentine’s Day as an opportunity for increased footfall and boosted sales. However, Valentine’s Day isn’t always a day that managers love. Here’s our advice on how to make this year’s event a success. Boost Sales Valentine’s Day is a great way for operators to drive increased sales. Being a […]

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Our Research Featured in the Morning Advertiser – Christmas Day Significance Grows

By working intimately with some of hospitality’s biggest and best operators, we are able to gain valuable insight into the industry’s trading conditions and trends.  Taking data from over 100 organisations who use our S4Labour labour management software, our new research, which has been featured in the Morning Advertiser, has revealed that Christmas Day is […]

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Top Tips for Upselling

January brings a sharp decline in sales across hospitality, and optimising sales revenue is a hot topic once again. Our recent analysis found that certain industry sectors have suffered as much as a 60% drop in sales this month compared to December trading. If businesses are to thrive at this barren time of year, upping […]

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Our Research – January Sees Sharp Sales Decline

2018 is now two weeks old. January, typically the hospitality industry’s quietest month, is half gone, and the impact to sales for many venues has been dramatic. Trading Style  Trend from Dec (Nov) Late Night -60.8% (-28.2%) Hotels -40.6% (-21.1%) Food-Led Pubs -35.5% (-9.9%) Restaurants -32.8% (-14.7%) Wet-Led Pubs -32.4% (-21.3%) Taking data from our […]

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We’re Exhibiting Soon…

February promises to be an exciting month, as S4Labour are exhibiting at two of hospitality’s biggest trade shows in London.    First up is Pub18, the UK’s only dedicated pub industry show, which opens its doors at Kensington’s Olympia on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th. Two weeks later we will be taking our place amongst […]

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Top Tips for Writing an Efficient Rota

2018 is upon us, but for hospitality operators, the new year is all too often not a happy one. After December’s glut of sales, January can feel like a famine. With the public watching their waistlines and looking after the pennies once more, footfall at most sites will be down causing revenue to suffer. More […]

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Our Advice for Business Success During Dry January

After a few too many pigs in blankets and countless celebratory Christmas drinks, January is viewed by many as a chance to kick-start a healthier lifestyle and reduce spending on food and drink after an indulgent festive period.   Over 3 million people have said that they plan to give up alcohol during the first […]

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S4Labour Partners with Tahola to Deliver Integrated and Innovative Solutions

We are delighted to announce that we have established an integration with leading data and business analytics providers Tahola.  We will work together with Tahola to provide the hospitality industry with a solution that meets organisations’ labour management and business intelligence requirements. This will result in reduced costs, improved processes, and increased revenue for operators. […]

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S4Labour Customers Nominated for Publican Awards

Congratulations are in order for three S4Labour clients who have been confirmed as finalists at the 2018 edition of the prestigious Publican Awards.  Seafood Pub Company will vie to claim the hotly-contested Best Food Offer category, an accolade they previously won in 2015, while Anglian Country Inns beat off stiff competition to take their place […]

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Our Advice for a Successful Christmas

The festive period is a bustling time of year for hospitality businesses. Within it lies an opportunity to impress your customers and boost your sales. Providing customers with exceptional service during December is a sure-fire way to drive repeat custom during the following months. Here’s our advice on how to make this Christmas a roaring […]

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How to Reset your S4Labour Password

We often hear from S4Labour users who wish to reset their password, either because they wish to change it or because they cannot remember the original.   Resetting a password is a quick and simple process which can be done by following the process below:  Step One On the S4Labour login page input your email address […]

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Staffing for December – Top Tips

December is a blessing for hospitality. Bookended by autumn’s dwindling trade and a cold, baron January, the “festive season” represents a sparkling opportunity. Increased footfall and a party atmosphere mean a revenue-boost is all but guaranteed. The best operators will exploit this further, both by maximising immediate profitability and using December to promote the long-term […]

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Improving your Sales Forecasting

With the festive season just around the corner, it is important for hospitality businesses to strategically plan for the increased demand during the weeks and months ahead. Accurate sales forecasting will ensure operators get the most from this busy period. Accuracy is Key Many businesses will under-forecast in order to keep labour costs low, and […]

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An Integrated Solution is a Better Solution

At S4Labour, we are proud that our labour management system was created by operators for operators. Our people have a wealth of experience gained from backgrounds in all sectors of hospitality, and we continue to manage three food-led destination pubs, two with bedrooms. These provide the perfect environment to ensure our products stay at the […]

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S4Labour Featured in Welcome Systems Podcast

At S4Labour, we understand the wide range of systems that contribute to the successful running of a modern hospitality business.  We have an active integration with Welcome Systems, market-leading providers of Property Management software. This allows optimisation of scheduling in sites offering overnight accommodation, with demand for housekeeping and food service staff driven by room occupancy rates […]

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What we Learned at the Propel Multi Club Autumn Conference

On Wednesday we were fortunate enough to sponsor the final Propel Multi Club Conference of the year. With industry leaders and entrepreneurial talent from a range of sectors scheduled to speak, we were eager to hear what they had to say. With an abundance of knowledge in their respective areas, we were provided with real […]

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We’re Sponsoring the Propel Conference

S4Labour are continuing our sponsorship of Propel events with the final Multi-Club Conference of 2017. The conference will take place on Wednesday 1st November at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London.  We will have a stand in the refreshments and networking area and will be available throughout the day to discuss controlling costs, driving greater […]

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Six Reasons to Work With S4Labour – Quotes from the Best Operators

At S4Labour we work with over 100 of Britain’s best hospitality organisations, ranging from award-winning single site and small multi-site operators right up to some of the country’s best-loved national brands. There are numerous reasons why they find us to be the perfect partner in ensuring their sustained success, but don’t just take our word […]

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The Future Looks Bright for S4Labour’s New Graduates

Following the appointment of three new senior employees, S4Labour are delighted to welcome to the company the four members of our graduate programme for 2017.   The quartet, who took up their positions at our Oxfordshire head office earlier this month, are Ross Atkinson, Ben Nestel, Jess Stacpoole, and George Tuvey. They were selected from […]

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Staffing After Summer – Our Advice

The kids are back at school, there’s a chill to the air, and while we may still be blessed with the odd fine day, autumn is in the air. For most in hospitality, the end of the summer season brings renewed staffing challenges.   With sales likely to drop, tightly controlled labour spend once again […]

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We’re at the Bar & Pub Show 2017

S4Labour are exhibiting at the Bar & Pub Show at Olympia, London, from October 2nd – 4th.   The three-day event, part of the wider Hospitality Show 2017, will bring together professionals from all sectors of the industry.  We are exhibiting from stand WF51, situated right next to the Bar & Pub Hub at the […]

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S4Labour Clients Win at Great British Pub Awards

The champagne corks were popping as two S4Labour customers saw off stiff competition to take wins at the Great British Pub Awards 2017.    City Pub Company’s Temple Brew House, in London, came out on top in the prestigious Beer Pub/Bar of the Year category, while Rumba, in Macclesfield, part of DV8 Bars, was crowned […]

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Experienced Trio Joins S4Labour

We are delighted to announce the appointments of three new senior members of the S4Labour team. This news was also reported in industry-leading publication Propel Info.  S4Labour is the fastest-growing labour scheduling solution for the hospitality industry. As more and more first rate operators are realising the value it brings to their business, we are dedicated […]

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Guide to Setting Up Users in S4Labour

As new people join your business, or are promoted internally, there will be a requirement to create new higher level users within S4Labour.  This is a simple process that typically takes under 30 seconds and can be carried out by any Level 5 (head office) level S4Labour user following the steps below.    Step One […]

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Expanding Your Empire – Our Advice

Are you looking to take on new sites to grow your hospitality business? If the answer’s a resounding “yes!”, you’re in good company – 60% of UK pubs are now managed by multi-site operators, while in recent years the restaurant sector has seen a rise in the number of chain operators coupled with a decrease […]

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Six Ways S4Labour Can Save You Time

S4Labour is the fastest growing labour solution for the hospitality industry. It is intuitive and user-friendly software designed to optimise scheduling of staff, as well as manage HR functions. In addition to significantly reducing operating costs, the system saves its users valuable time, allowing site managers to focus on doing what they do best – […]

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S4Labour Case Study – Barons Pub Company – Helping the Best Get Better

Barons Pub Company is a collection of food-led pubs in the south of England. It was founded by Clive Price in 2000 and has grown healthily since. Averaging a new site acquisition every two years, Barons expanded outside of its Surrey heartland for the first time in early 2017, opening The Black Boy near Reading. […]

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Top Tips for Summer Holiday Success

School’s out for summer, and for our industry that means there are a host of opportunities for operators to maximise sales. Doing this well can provide an even greater boost to turnover at a time of year that typically sees the strongest trading, setting your business up for success into the autumn and beyond. Here […]

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What we Learned at the Propel Summer Conference

Last Thursday, we were lucky enough to sponsor the latest in a long line of excellent Propel events. This year’s summer conference, complete with evening party, as ever saw a programme packed with illuminating speakers from all areas of hospitality. Across those on stage, we saw a common theme – strong, genuine people with a […]

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Helping the Best get Better

Congratulations are in order for no fewer than eight of our valued customers who have had sites nominated for awards in this year’s Great British Pub Awards across five different categories. The awards night is due to take place in London and September, and we will certainly be rooting for plenty of outright category wins, all […]

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Ambience and “Site Flow” – the Key to Modern Success?

Ten years ago next month, the smoking ban came into effect across the UK.Opponents at the time argued that the ban would critically harm the pub sector, viewing drinking and smoking as too closely linked Opponents at the time argued that the ban would critically harm the pub sector, viewing drinking and smoking as too […]

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