The Blog

Fixes in place in order to support system stability and performance.

CJRS Update  For periods in July 2021, Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants will cover 70% of employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,187.50. In August and September 2021, this will then reduce...

UK’s Hospitality Industry resonates as a leader with a plethora of international staffing. A good 20.4% of its workforce is non-British.   The industry sees a myriad of nationalities absorbed into its sector. Current...

Analysis from S4labour shows that hospitality sales are 18.27% below what they were before the curfew, comparing week 37 & 38 to week 40 & 41 (before and after curfew). When we look at the 18.27% decrease broken...

Analysis from S4labour that hospitality sales from last week were down 21.2% compared to the week before the curfew (2 weeks prior), with sales of food down 19.1% and drink sales down 23.2% on two weeks before. While weekly...

 Analysis from S4labour shows that hospitality like for like sales in September were down 4.3% compared to the same month last year. With consumer confidence boosted in August by EOTHO, the momentum seems to have continued...

S4labour release labour percentages since lockdown ended  Short story  Industry Labour ratios increase by 10% in first month of trading as operators get a handle on new ways of operating and lower sales levels. Analysis...

S4labour, the online labour-scheduling management system from Catton Hospitality, has warned the change in criteria for employee eligibility on furlough pay means some staff may now miss out. The government has extended the...

Richard Hartley, chief product officer of S4labour, the online labour-scheduling management system from Catton Hospitality, has offered readers advice on the issue of furlough pay. He said: “We are awaiting further...

Getting people to change the way they do things is no easy task, often a simple change feels impossible. It can be easy for us as leaders to see the problem and get frustrated when others can’t. Similarly, we get annoyed...

As we continue to expand, we are recruiting for a Developer in addition to four other roles. The successful candidate will join the in-house development team at our Banbury headquarters in creating and maintaining cutting edge labour management software for the hospitality industry. Please see full details for this and the other roles below. We […]

Due to our continued success we are currently looking for positive, professional and fun people to join us! We have four new vacancies: Product Manager Business Manager – Hotel & Specialist Product Manager – Forecasting/Reporting Training & Implementation Manager – Customer Success The full job descriptions for these positions can be found below. If you […]

December was another excellent month for operators. Following strong November sales, December like-for-likes were up 4.5%, according to an analysis of more than 100 organisations that use S4Labour software. Wet-led venues enjoyed a 3.9% boost in sales, thanks to a 6.5% increase in food sales. Meanwhile, food-focused businesses were the biggest winners overall with a […]

November was an excellent month for hospitality, as like-for-like sales were up by 4.7% compared with 2017 levels- according to a study of over 100 hospitality organisations that use S4Labour scheduling, HR and Payroll software. Drink sales were the main driver behind the strong results; the hospitality industry saw a 6.5% increase on 2017’s levels, […]

Recently, we were lucky enough to sponsor the Multi Club Conference, the latest in a series of exceptional Propel events. This year’s autumn conference was filled with enlightening talks from a variety of speakers across the hospitality industry. It was a pleasure to spend the day with passionate leaders who genuinely care about what they […]

Recent growth in UK hospitality revenues has ceased as October brought a 1% dip in average sales, according to our latest research. Analysis of over 100 organisations that use S4Labour software found the decline was driven by lower food sales, with operators typically seeing a 2% fall. Following a summer of high spending, its likely […]

The labour misconception by Alastair Scott Our CEO, Alastair, highlights the tough period ahead for the hospitality industry. He reflects on “Worrying times”, an article written by Ann Elliott, chief executive of Elliotts, a leading integrated marketing agency in the hospitality and leisure sector. Ann Elliott’s recent article in Propel’s Friday Opinion series was a […]

Food sales drive rise in September sales for S4 Labour customers Like-for-like sales in September were up by 0.5% compared with 2017 levels, according to a study of over 100 hospitality organisations that use S4Labour scheduling and HR software. Food sales were the driving force behind this rise as these operators saw an average 3.5% increase across their […]

Top Tips for Efficient Sunday Lunch Service At this time of year, people are seeking comforting food in a cosy atmosphere. Autumn brings about a high demand for Sunday lunches and this can be critical to overall profitability. Here’s our top tips for an efficient Sunday lunch service. Staffing up the curve We often speak […]

At S4Labour we are often approached by operators who ask for help controlling costs in their venues. While we can certainly oblige in this, an often overlooked yet equally significant factor in promoting the overall health of a hospitality business is driving increased sales. Here are our top tips. Forecast Sales to Deploy Efficiently  Avoiding […]

Recent months have been hugely positive for the UK hospitality industry. Our own analysis revealed that, bolstered by fine weather and the World Cup, average June revenues were up 5.4% on 2017. This followed equally impressive May trading and will mean many operators are heading into August feeling flush. As pleasant as it would be […]

Following a superb early summer, July was a quieter month for UK hospitality.   May and June both saw like for like sales up in excess of 5%, but this rising trend has been arrested, according to our latest research. Analysis of over 100 organisations using our S4Labour software across all industry sectors found on average […]

We were privileged to sponsor the Propel Multi Club Summer Conference that took place a couple of weeks ago. The day presented a range of insightful talks from industry leaders and entrepreneurial talent, whilst the evening offered a chance for networking with peers, new and old. Exploring untapped markets, expanding at carefully considered rates, and […]

No fewer than eight venues using S4Labour have been nominated as finalists across six categories for the Great British Pub Awards 2018.  The latest round of judging has now been completed, and representatives from the eight venues will now take their place at the prestigious awards night in September, hoping to scoop category wins ranging […]

June was a superb month for sales for S4Labour customers, our latest analysis has found.  Research into over 100 organisations across all industry sectors revealed that average like for like revenues were up 5.4%. Recent fine weather and the start of the World Cup are likely factors in the increase, with drink sales 6.7% and food sales […]

S4Labour is equally effective across all styles of hospitality business.  We recently rolled out S4Labour into BEAR, a fresh hybrid concept where chic cafe meets lively bar with a side order of delicious home-cooked food. BEAR, who recently opened their third venue, have grand plans for expansion, and will use S4Labour to provide the foundations […]

Nothing captures the imagination of the British public quite like the World Cup. The month-long festival of football – inevitably bringing disappointment in England and delight for fans in other parts of the UK – never fails to create a sustained party atmosphere. The potential for hospitality operators to capitalise is huge, especially those in […]

May was an excellent month for the UK hospitality industry with like for like sales across the industry up 5% on 2017 levels, our latest research has found.  Analysis of over 100 organisations using our S4Labour scheduling and HR software revealed that strong drink sales – likely bolstered by fine weather and the Royal Wedding […]

After a winter that seemed to last a lifetime, with Artic conditions punishing hospitality operators well into March, spring is finally here. Britain is basking in warm, sunny weather and the fine days are set to last into the weekend, giving the industry a golden chance to make proverbial hay. But simply throwing open the […]

S4Labour is leading workforce management software for the hospitality industry. Since 2011, its innovative visual analysis of hourly sales data, taken direct from EPoS integrations, has allowed operators to optimise staff deployment, resulting in lower costs and increased sales. The feature-rich package also significantly reduces administrative time for its users. The fully-integrated HR module, covering […]

On May 25th, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect. The new laws oblige businesses to amend the way they interact with data in a world with an increasingly technological outlook.  As such, we have reviewed, audited, and documented our processes, and have made appropriate changes. How the GDPR affects S4Labour and its users.  […]

The champagne corks were popping for two S4Labour customers, who claimed category wins as the prestigious Publican Awards last night.  Seafood Pub Company, who manage twelve sites in the North West of England, saw off stiff competition to secure the coveted Best Food Offer prize. They pride themselves on an ethos of sourcing quality local produce […]

Last Wednesday we were lucky enough to sponsor the Propel Multi-Club March 2018 Conference. With a line-up of industry experts delivering talks on a variety of topics, we were eager to hear what they had to say. The talks were of a high quality, with speakers combining their experiences with opinion on the current market […]

S4Labour CEO Alastair Scott was featured in the latest edition of the always excellent “Friday Opinion” series of articles published by Propel Info, one of UK hospitality’s most respected institutions. In response to a previous piece written by the Thai Leisure Group’s James Hacon, Alastair discussed the challenges and opportunities that define the burgeoning relationship […]

2018 has already seen a number of superb multi-site operators begin using our industry-leading S4Labour workforce management and HR software.  Increasingly, business leaders are recognising the value our systems bring them to reduce costs, increase sales and service levels, and improve processes, and are eager to come on board.  Our newest clients include Butcombe Brewery‘s 24-strong […]

Hospitality venues can look forward to Valentine’s Day as an opportunity for increased footfall and boosted sales. However, Valentine’s Day isn’t always a day that managers love. Here’s our advice on how to make this year’s event a success. Boost Sales Valentine’s Day is a great way for operators to drive increased sales. Being a […]

January brings a sharp decline in sales across hospitality, and optimising sales revenue is a hot topic once again. Our recent analysis found that certain industry sectors have suffered as much as a 60% drop in sales this month compared to December trading. If businesses are to thrive at this barren time of year, upping […]

2018 is now two weeks old. January, typically the hospitality industry’s quietest month, is half gone, and the impact to sales for many venues has been dramatic. Trading Style  Trend from Dec (Nov) Late Night -60.8% (-28.2%) Hotels -40.6% (-21.1%) Food-Led Pubs -35.5% (-9.9%) Restaurants -32.8% (-14.7%) Wet-Led Pubs -32.4% (-21.3%) Taking data from our […]

February promises to be an exciting month, as S4Labour are exhibiting at two of hospitality’s biggest trade shows in London.    First up is Pub18, the UK’s only dedicated pub industry show, which opens its doors at Kensington’s Olympia on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th. Two weeks later we will be taking our place amongst […]

2018 is upon us, but for hospitality operators, the new year is all too often not a happy one. After December’s glut of sales, January can feel like a famine. With the public watching their waistlines and looking after the pennies once more, footfall at most sites will be down causing revenue to suffer. More […]

After a few too many pigs in blankets and countless celebratory Christmas drinks, January is viewed by many as a chance to kick-start a healthier lifestyle and reduce spending on food and drink after an indulgent festive period.   Over 3 million people have said that they plan to give up alcohol during the first […]

We are delighted to announce that we have established an integration with leading data and business analytics providers Tahola.  We will work together with Tahola to provide the hospitality industry with a solution that meets organisations’ labour management and business intelligence requirements. This will result in reduced costs, improved processes, and increased revenue for operators. […]

Congratulations are in order for three S4Labour clients who have been confirmed as finalists at the 2018 edition of the prestigious Publican Awards.  Seafood Pub Company will vie to claim the hotly-contested Best Food Offer category, an accolade they previously won in 2015, while Anglian Country Inns beat off stiff competition to take their place […]

We often hear from S4Labour users who wish to reset their password, either because they wish to change it or because they cannot remember the original.   Resetting a password is a quick and simple process which can be done by following the process below:  Step One On the S4Labour login page input your email address […]

December is a blessing for hospitality. Bookended by autumn’s dwindling trade and a cold, baron January, the “festive season” represents a sparkling opportunity. Increased footfall and a party atmosphere mean a revenue-boost is all but guaranteed. The best operators will exploit this further, both by maximising immediate profitability and using December to promote the long-term […]

At S4Labour, we are proud that our labour management system was created by operators for operators. Our people have a wealth of experience gained from backgrounds in all sectors of hospitality, and we continue to manage three food-led destination pubs, two with bedrooms. These provide the perfect environment to ensure our products stay at the […]

At S4Labour, we understand the wide range of systems that contribute to the successful running of a modern hospitality business.  We have an active integration with Welcome Systems, market-leading providers of Property Management software. This allows optimisation of scheduling in sites offering overnight accommodation, with demand for housekeeping and food service staff driven by room occupancy rates […]

S4Labour are continuing our sponsorship of Propel events with the final Multi-Club Conference of 2017. The conference will take place on Wednesday 1st November at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London.  We will have a stand in the refreshments and networking area and will be available throughout the day to discuss controlling costs, driving greater […]

At S4Labour we work with over 100 of Britain’s best hospitality organisations, ranging from award-winning single site and small multi-site operators right up to some of the country’s best-loved national brands. There are numerous reasons why they find us to be the perfect partner in ensuring their sustained success, but don’t just take our word […]

Following the appointment of three new senior employees, S4Labour are delighted to welcome to the company the four members of our graduate programme for 2017.   The quartet, who took up their positions at our Oxfordshire head office earlier this month, are Ross Atkinson, Ben Nestel, Jess Stacpoole, and George Tuvey. They were selected from […]

The kids are back at school, there’s a chill to the air, and while we may still be blessed with the odd fine day, autumn is in the air. For most in hospitality, the end of the summer season brings renewed staffing challenges.   With sales likely to drop, tightly controlled labour spend once again […]

S4Labour are exhibiting at the Bar & Pub Show at Olympia, London, from October 2nd – 4th.   The three-day event, part of the wider Hospitality Show 2017, will bring together professionals from all sectors of the industry.  We are exhibiting from stand WF51, situated right next to the Bar & Pub Hub at the […]

The champagne corks were popping as two S4Labour customers saw off stiff competition to take wins at the Great British Pub Awards 2017.    City Pub Company’s Temple Brew House, in London, came out on top in the prestigious Beer Pub/Bar of the Year category, while Rumba, in Macclesfield, part of DV8 Bars, was crowned […]

We are delighted to announce the appointments of three new senior members of the S4Labour team. This news was also reported in industry-leading publication Propel Info.  S4Labour is the fastest-growing labour scheduling solution for the hospitality industry. As more and more first rate operators are realising the value it brings to their business, we are dedicated […]

As new people join your business, or are promoted internally, there will be a requirement to create new higher level users within S4Labour.  This is a simple process that typically takes under 30 seconds and can be carried out by any Level 5 (head office) level S4Labour user following the steps below.    Step One […]

Are you looking to take on new sites to grow your hospitality business? If the answer’s a resounding “yes!”, you’re in good company – 60% of UK pubs are now managed by multi-site operators, while in recent years the restaurant sector has seen a rise in the number of chain operators coupled with a decrease […]

S4Labour is the fastest growing labour solution for the hospitality industry. It is intuitive and user-friendly software designed to optimise scheduling of staff, as well as manage HR functions. In addition to significantly reducing operating costs, the system saves its users valuable time, allowing site managers to focus on doing what they do best – […]

Last Thursday, we were lucky enough to sponsor the latest in a long line of excellent Propel events. This year’s summer conference, complete with evening party, as ever saw a programme packed with illuminating speakers from all areas of hospitality. Across those on stage, we saw a common theme – strong, genuine people with a […]

Congratulations are in order for no fewer than eight of our valued customers who have had sites nominated for awards in this year’s Great British Pub Awards across five different categories. The awards night is due to take place in London and September, and we will certainly be rooting for plenty of outright category wins, all […]

Ten years ago next month, the smoking ban came into effect across the UK.Opponents at the time argued that the ban would critically harm the pub sector, viewing drinking and smoking as too closely linked Opponents at the time argued that the ban would critically harm the pub sector, viewing drinking and smoking as too […]

Last month we brought you our Top Tips for Management Time-Saving. This time round, we turn our attention to those people who compose nine-tenths of our workforce, team members. With over 25,000 now registered on S4Labour, it’s high time they were given some consideration. Here are our top five tips to help employees work more […]

Our industry truly has people at its heart. Paradoxically, many employees in it feel no love for the work they do. Some studies have found employee turnover in the sector to be as high as 80%, while a 2016 report found that poor staff retention costs UK hospitality businesses £272 million a year. It seems […]

Time is always precious, but seldom more so than for managers in our industry. Tasked with balancing the business-building side of their role against the less glamorous administrative processes required to promote efficiency, for these people any opportunity to save time is a golden one. Here are our top tips on how to do just […]

This week, a survey by the Morning Advertiser revealed that a huge 64% of British families visited a pub or restaurant on last month’s Mothers’ Day. A 2015 study by bighospitality.co.uk reported that three-quarters of families are now eating out more regularly than they were five years ago. With figures like this, it’s easy to […]

With Britain basking in spring sunshine this week, it’s easy to believe summer is just around the corner. Here are our top five tips for how to make summer 2017 efficient and profitable. Restructure the bar The summer season brings a prime opportunity to restructure your product offer behind the bar to optimise efficiency. We […]

It’s a stretch to say that summer is just around the corner, but the days are getting longer, the weather’s getting warmer, and spring’s first daffodils are here. In the hospitality industry, however, there is rarely time to stop and smell the flowers. Smart operators are already turning their attention to the challenges and opportunities […]

Mothers’ Day is almost upon us, and will be swiftly followed by Easter, May’s bank holidays, and the busy summer season. Making the most of these opportunities on an annual basis can be essential to the success of many hospitality businesses. Here are our top tips on how to do just that. Scope out the […]

[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.cattonhospitality.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Comprehensive-Guide-to-User-Access-Levels-Customer-Facing-Version-1.pdf” title=”Comprehensive Guide to User Access Levels (Customer Facing Version)”]

As the labour management solution of choice for many first rate operators, we are superbly positioned to provide unique insight into the challenges faced by the industry. Our research into the impact of living and minimum wage increases was recently featured in both Propel and The Morning Advertiser.

Reporting is an important aspect of modern hospitality management, with operators benefiting from a wealth of illuminating information. Here are our top tips on how you can make reporting work for your business.  Daily Reporting To stay on top of their business performance, it is important for site managers to have quick, easy access to key […]

[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.cattonhospitality.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/january-top-tips-1.pdf” title=”january top tips”] Featured image by Peoplecreations – Freepik.com

Customers are at the very heart of every successful hospitality business. We often see pubs, bars, and restaurants referring to their “valued” customers, and many a manager has opined that “customers pay the bills.” But how often do we think about how much a customer is truly worth us in financial terms? In an industry […]