Business

Galgorm launches menu of 180 new roles in fresh recruitment drive

Announcing the jobs boost are (from left) Andrew Logan, head chef Castle Kitchen + Bar; Jessica Halliday, Galgorm Spa therapist; Colin Johnston, Galgorm Collection managing director; Nyree Kerr, Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort receptionist; and Peter Meehan, bar person at Fratelli
Announcing the jobs boost are (from left) Andrew Logan, head chef Castle Kitchen + Bar; Jessica Halliday, Galgorm Spa therapist; Colin Johnston, Galgorm Collection managing director; Nyree Kerr, Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort receptionist; and Peter Meehan Announcing the jobs boost are (from left) Andrew Logan, head chef Castle Kitchen + Bar; Jessica Halliday, Galgorm Spa therapist; Colin Johnston, Galgorm Collection managing director; Nyree Kerr, Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort receptionist; and Peter Meehan, bar person at Fratelli

THE owner of the Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort has launched a recruitment drive to hire at least 180 new team members for a range of hospitality roles for its hotels and restaurants in Ballymena, Belfast and Templepatrick.

It will bring the total Galgorm Collection workforce to 900 and will increase its wages bill by £5 million a year.

More than half of the roles (94) will be at the Galgorm resort near Ballymena, with 60 new staff joining the company’s two city centre restaurants (Café Parisien and Fratelli’s), and 26 being recruited to support the opening of its newest venture the Rabbit Hotel in Templepatrick.

In preparation for the hospitality sector reopening in the coming months, it is recruiting for full- and part-time roles ranging from chefs to bar tenders, spa therapists and managers, to facilities staff, house-keepers, drivers and night porters (details at www. galgorm.com/work-with-us.html).

Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston said: “This new initiative will expand our total workforce to 900 team members, confirms our commitment to further developing a world-class hospitality provision, and reaffirms our confidence in the sector’s recovery.”

He added: “We are currently working towards an April start date for our first new team members and look forward to the Executive confirming a reopening date for hospitality and tourism sector so that we can begin onboarding our new recruits and facilitating a return to work as soon as possible.”

Economy Minister Diane Dodds said the Galgorm decision “is positive news” and represented a strong foot forward in the north collectively forging a path to recovery.

“Galgorm has continued to demonstrate strong leadership for the industry and this announcement will provide a beacon of light for the rebuilding of the sector.”

Tourism NI chief Executive John McGrillen added: “The closure of the hospitality sector has been sorely felt and the full impact of this still remains to be seen.

“This announcement will provide a much-needed lifeline for many workers in an industry hard-hit by the pandemic and will help provide renewed confidence and momentum in working towards the sector’s recovery.”