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Sefton Council’s brand-new hospitality company is embarking on a recruitment drive.

Sefton Hospitality Operations Limited (or SHOL for short) is looking for local Sefton residents to fill a range of vacancies.

SHOL is a private company set up to create and operate hospitality outlets offering exciting, diverse, and accessible options for their customers. From hotels through to bars and restaurants, as well as outside catering, food delivery and events, SHOL aims to provide unique experiences for both its guests and employees.

SHOL may be the new kid on the hospitality industry block, but don’t be fooled – the management team has big plans! While its main operations will be focused on the newly-refurbished Crosby Lakeside, the team at SHOL has its sights set on other opportunities to grow the company, and is in talks to provide services at Bootle Canalside and a number of other potential concessions.

The roles being recruited to are permanent employment opportunities, with all roles paying a real living wage or above. There will be guaranteed interview opportunities to groups that may have previously faced barriers to employment (for example care leavers, or young people not in education, employment or training), with SHOL keen to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workforce.

This strategy is to be presented to Sefton Council’s Cabinet meeting next week and reflects the Council’s vision and values for its organisation and the borough, as well as for SHOL, a company wholly owned by Sefton.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, says:

“We formed the hospitality company to deliver career opportunities just like this. Although it’s still early days for Sefton’s Hospitality company, the focus for SHOL will be on being an employer of choice in the hospitality sector. The industry leading terms and conditions will be one part of an attractive offer to employees, ensuring that the company will be able to attract, develop and retain staff.  In short, if you treat your staff well, they will deliver high quality, memorable customer experiences.”

Training and development are paramount to the team at SHOL with “People First” being one of the company’s core values. The SHOL Academy will see us partnering with local education providers, alongside industry partners to create a program of training and experience to invest in our staff, so that by year 3 we’re appointing to 80% of our management positions from within.

Ben Hedley, Managing Director of SHOL, says:

“We have a number of immediate vacancies in all areas of the business, ranging from business development and finance, through to management and events. So whatever point you are at on your career journey, there will be an opportunity, and a career pathway, for you at SHOL.  You may well be brand new to working in hospitality, but we will invest in you, in your training and development so that you can carve yourself a long-term career in this industry.  I’m really keen that with initiatives such as the SHOL Academy we create a culture of opportunity and progression; so, as the business grows, so too will your career grow.”

If you would like more information about the job opportunities available at SHOL visit www.seftonatwork.net

ENDS –

More than £3.2m of funding has been pledged to support victims of sexual violence over the next five years by Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, working in partnership with NHS England and the region’s five local authorities.

Emily Spurrell has united with NHS England and Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral Councils to put together a package of funding to deliver a dedicated aftercare support service for all victims of rape and sexual assault.

Available to anyone

The service, which is delivered as part of the Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service, is available to anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when the incident happened or whether it was reported to the police or not.

It will be delivered by RASA Merseyside and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Merseyside and Cheshire.

The two charities will share £649,500 a year from April 2022 to March 2027 to deliver the pan-Merseyside service, with RASA providing support to victims in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral and RASASC delivering the service in Knowsley and St Helens.

Both services offer an information and reporting phone line, specialist counselling services and dedicated Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) who support and guide survivors through the criminal justice system.

Priorities

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Ensuring victims of crime get the support they need to recover from the trauma they have suffered is one of my absolute priorities as Police Commissioner.

“When survivors of rape and sexual violence have the courage to speak out about their experiences and seek support they deserve the very best possible care.

“I’m delighted that working with NHS England and all five of Merseyside local authorities we have been able to put together this long-term funding package which will enable RASA and RASASC to continue their crucial work offering sustainable, specialist support to anyone who has been subjected to these traumatic and devastating crimes over the next five years.”

Stability

RASA Merseyside’s Finance & Strategic Development Manager Josephine Wood MBE said: “We are delighted to be recommissioned to deliver our specialist service for survivors of sexual violence across Merseyside.

“Month on month, the need for our services grows and we look forward to a long period of stability to enable us to develop further services to give victims and survivors the support they need and deserve after such abuse.”

Aftercare

RASASC’s Operations Director Julie Evans said: “We are delighted to be able to work once again in partnership with Merseyside RASA to deliver a seamless aftercare service across Merseyside.”

“Funding will enable us to continue offering counselling, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and an Information Line to men, women and children from our different centres in Merseyside.”

“We are looking forward to continue working closing with the Police and Crime Commissioner and to be able to continue offering a service to survivors of sexual violence in Knowsley and St Helens.”

Free of fear

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “Women, girls and all those affected by gender-based violence have the right to live free of fear and discrimination.

“It is vital that, as a partnership, we reassure people who have been victims of rape and sexual assault that they are not alone, and that people in their communities care about them and support is available from wonderful organisations such as RASA Merseyside and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Merseyside and Cheshire.

“These support services are in place to help and we urge anyone who has experienced abuse, or who knows of someone, to get in touch immediately.”

RASA and RASASC have delivered the Commissioner’s aftercare support service as part of Victim Care Merseyside since 2015. They were re-selected following a competitive tendering process and a selection panel consisting of members of the PCC’s office and representatives from Merseyside Police and each of the partner agencies.

Bids were evaluated upon quality, cost, an interview process and references.

The RASA helpline is available at 0151 666 1392 or at helpline@rasamerseyside.org

The RASASC helpline is available at 0330 363 0063 or email support@rapecentre.org.uk 

If you’ve been affected by crime, for information and advice or to find an organisation to help, please visit www.victimcaremerseyside.org