D&D London, the owner of more than 40 high end restaurants including Le Pont de la Tour, Quaglino’s and Coq d’Argent, is to launch a summer school for staff in the latest gambit to secure enough workers for the full reopening of hospitality businesses later this month. Up to 30 participants will be paid to attend the week-long course starting on 5 July. The group said it had struggled to secure enough workers as trade had picked up since its outlets were able to open for restricted dining from April. Hospitality businesses face a looming crisis as a shortage of workers created by Brexit combines with a surge in Covid infections, forcing some businesses to temporarily close or reduce hours as teams of workers are sent home to isolate after receiving notifications from the NHS test-and-trace app. The difficulties are expected to worsen from 19 July when hospitality businesses are to fully reopen after months of restricted trading. Businesses are thought to be running at only about three-quarters of capacity as they must ensure social distancing measures. The industry is raising £5m to support training up 10,000 new recruits by next summer, via the Springboard initiative, as employers say former workers have sought alternative employment or returned to Europe after months of lockdowns kept businesses closed. Last month D&D said it hoped to hire up to 400 recruits for its total 1,300 UK workforce. It is still seeking at least 200 workers as many former staff decided to return to Europe during the pandemic and now have chosen not to, or have been unable to, return to the UK because of Brexit or Covid travel restrictions. David Loewi, D&D co-founder, said: “We are recruiting but it is very, very tough. Every restaurant is worried. We have to do something and we are looking at a number of different initiatives [to bring in more staff]. This training scheme is taking people with no experience in hospitality if they have got the right attitude.” He said the first summer school, based in Soho, central London, had already signed up enough recruits, including school leavers and former retail and aviation workers. It will aim to train front of house, kitchen and bar staff. Those on the kitchen scheme will train as commis chefs with masterclasses from D&D chefs as well as training in food safety, basic knife skills, allergens and hygiene standards. They will also learn classic cookery skills including pasta making, bread baking and how to prepare the perfect omelette. The courses will end with an interview and successful attenders will get a job at one of D&D’s restaurants. If successful, the initiative will be continued with further schools through the summer.