Leeds job shortages see Northern Monk Brewery receive 1,000 applications for one position

Northern Monk Brewery, based in Holbeck, advertised the job for three weeks and received around 13 times more applications than usual.

The independent brewery, which has a bar in Leeds, said applicants included people who had been made redundant and others who were on furlough during the pandemic.

More than one in 10 young people in parts of Yorkshire have found themselves out of work during the Covid-19 crisis and UK unemployment levels are now at their lowest since 2009.

Northern Monk's HR manager Sophie Lennon said: "We had 1,021 people apply, it was well beyond what we would expect. Normally if we receive between 15 and 75 applications that's great.

"It was anyone and everyone who applied, people from different career backgrounds. A lot of people want to come and work with us for a career change, so it was a varied mix of applicants.

"We had people apply who had been made redundant and people on furlough who may have had different experiences with their employers and wanted a change."

The two Northern Monk refectories, one in Holbeck and the other in Manchester, have now reopened and Sophie says the company has adapted well during the pandemic.

She added: "We've been fortunate to have great support from our followers and customers. We've weathered the storm really well.

"Our bars and customer safety has changed a lot, we're starting to bring people back to the office and we've put lots in place to make sure everyone stays safe.

"We're also doing more to reward our staff as we know how difficult it's been working through the pandemic."

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Thank you

Laura Collins