The summer months bring a surge in demand across hospitality, events, logistics, warehousing, and more. For many businesses, that surge is predictable. Yet every year, employers find themselves short on staff when it matters most. Good summer staffing planning is the difference between a season that runs smoothly and one that costs you.
Here is how to get ahead of it.
Start Your Summer Staffing Planning Early
The biggest mistake businesses make is leaving it too late. By the time summer arrives, the best candidates are already placed. Temporary workers with the right experience get snapped up quickly. If you want the pick of the talent pool, you need to start the conversation early.
Think about your busiest weeks. Map out where the gaps are likely to appear. Then work backwards from there to figure out when you need people in place and trained up.
Know Which Roles You Actually Need
Not every business needs the same solution. Some employers need a large volume of temporary staff for a short burst. Others need a handful of reliable people to cover holidays and absences across the summer. Knowing exactly what you need makes the process faster and more cost-effective.
Consider the following:
- Where do your current team stretch thin during the summer?
- Are there roles that need to be covered for planned holiday leave?
- Do you have any projects or peaks that need additional resources?
Getting clear on this early means your recruitment partner can move quickly when the time comes.
Use a Recruitment Agency to Take the Pressure Off
Working with a recruitment agency means you are not starting from scratch every time a gap appears. A good agency already has a pool of vetted, experienced candidates ready to go. They handle the screening, compliance, and onboarding admin so you can focus on running your business. If you want to understand more about workforce planning best practice, the CIPD has a range of free resources to help employers plan effectively.
Don’t Leave It to Chance
The businesses that handle summer well are the ones that plan for it. They know their numbers, they brief their recruitment partner early, and they have the right people in place before the pressure hits. The ones that struggle are the ones that wait and hope for the best.
Summer staffing planning is not complicated. It just requires a bit of forward thinking.
Ready to get your summer staffing sorted? Get in touch with your local Kenect Recruitment branch today and let us help you build the right team before the season starts.
