Asking for Angela? Staff shortages mean no one’s answering

A new report is calling for the “Ask for Angela” scheme to become mandatory for all licensed venues, but businesses struggling with staff shortages may not be able to carry it out effectively.

Ask for Angela was introduced in 2016 as a way to protect customers from sexual harassment, by giving them a subtle way to ask staff for help if they felt unsafe.

However, research has revealed that many bars across London haven’t been properly implementing the campaign. This week, a report by the London Assembly has pushed for councils to make the scheme mandatory for alcohol licensing agreements.

Short-staffed hospitality businesses are currently grappling with the government’s plans to increase employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) this April. The labour issues could worsen already serious gaps in training among pub, club, and bar staff.

Pubs and bars already fall short of adopting Ask for Angela

According to a study by Forward UK, nearly 87% of young women consider sexual harassment in London public spaces to be a problem. Schemes like Ask for Angela can be crucial in spaces where customers may feel vulnerable or at risk.

However, a recent investigation by the BBC found that staff at more than half of the London venues they visited, including in popular chains like JD Wetherspoon and Greene King, were not properly enforcing the scheme. 

One pub worker reported that staff from his workplace weren’t aware the venue was running the scheme and that new employees weren’t trained on how to help vulnerable customers.

“I found that they would put up posters and things like that, but there wasn’t really any sufficient training on different scenarios that could have happened,” he said. “Some people weren’t even aware that we were running it, so if someone would ask about Angela, then they wouldn’t really have a clue about what’s going on.”

Sadiq Khan urged to add Ask for Angela to licensing agreements

The London Assembly’s London Night-Time Economy report has urged the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to make local councils add the Ask for Angela scheme to venues’ licensing agreements.

If implemented, the rule change would mean that London bars and pubs would be required to adopt Ask for Angela and properly train staff as a mandatory condition for obtaining an alcohol licence.

“The committee believes that more councils should adopt this approach – provided that the scheme operates effectively and staff in venues are properly trained,” the report said.

Khan has yet to comment on the report himself, but a spokesperson for the Mayor said that he will “consider the Assembly’s report and respond in due course”. 

They added that Khan will “continue to do all he can to support London’s nightlife, which is so vital to the success of our city”. Last year, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) found that over 3,000 bars, pubs, and restaurants had closed in the capital since 2019.

Staff shortages putting training at risk

In September 2024, data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed there were 98,000 empty roles in the food service and accommodation sector – 5,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels of 93,000. 

Tax rises announced in the government’s Autumn Budget, combined with a reduction in business rates relief, have put small business owners under further financial pressure, pushing an estimated 70% of pubs, bars and restaurants to plan job cuts this year. 

In a study reported by Harpers, 73% of businesses said employees have experienced increased workloads due to staff shortages. As a result, customer experience is also worsening, with 41% of firms self-reporting a decline in quality of service.

Organisations are trying their hardest to maintain exceptional customer service and safety. But as the government continues to pile on more costs, optimism is declining. 

With many hospitality businesses struggling to maintain adequate staff, schemes like Ask for Angela might not be the only casualty. Their owners can only hope for a last-minute U-turn on the planned employer NIC rise this Spring.