The hospitality industry is facing a growing challenge one that doesn’t always make headlines but has serious long-term implications: a shortage of strong middle management talent.

While entry-level recruitment remains relatively active and senior leadership often grabs the spotlight, it’s the middle tier : duty managers, assistant GMs, operations managers, heads of department – where we’re seeing a dangerous vacuum. These are the people who keep operations running, bridge strategy and delivery, and shape the next generation of leaders. Without them, the entire structure starts to wobble.

Many experienced middle managers left the industry during the pandemic and haven’t returned. Others have been promoted too quickly out of necessity, without the right training or mentorship. And with fewer people entering the industry at grassroots level, our future talent pipeline is thinning fast.

If we don’t invest now in training, retention, development, and genuinely valuing this vital layer of leadership  the long-term health of the industry is at risk. Strong middle managers aren’t just operational glue; they’re future GMs, directors, and industry innovators.

We need to stop treating middle management as a stepping stone and start recognising it as a strategic priority.

At Daly Recruitment, we’re focused on supporting employers who see this gap and want to fill it with the right people, with the right values, for long-term success.