A TRADING boost is being forecast by Russell Taylor Group’s Construction and Fit Out Division as innovative new technology escalates the UK’s fast-food and retail industries.

Despite the current backdrop of higher energy costs and material shortages, the division has secured preferred client status with three national shop-fitting contractors to supply labour for the fit-out of major high street outlets including Sainsbury’s, McDonald’s and Costa Coffee.

A huge upsurge in the growth of discount and “bargain” stores throughout the country is also contributing to market optimism as their expansion programmes for 2022 and 2023 all require a steady pipeline of temporary labour.

Gerard Lester, Russell Taylor Group’s national business development manager supporting the growth of the Construction and Fit Out Division, said: “Technology has totally changed the face of the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors as outlets compete to be more efficient and offer a better service for customers. 

“Fast-food chains are rapidly installing touch-screen terminals to speed up orders, there are self-order kiosks and many restaurants are using electronic displays in their kitchens, seeing an end to customers’ orders on paper. 

“The bargain discount stores are also experiencing an unprecedented boom nationally with one Liverpool-founded business now one of the biggest operators in the country. Their expansion strategy is likely to see their current outlets, now totalling almost 600, reach 800 in the near future - all of them in need of a constant supply of highly skilled and semi-skilled labour to see these ambitious fit-out contracts come to fruition.”

The use of local contract labour is also key to providing a more cost-effective service for customers - avoiding the increasing costs of accommodation and travel - as opposed to the once traditional method of transporting a full workforce around the UK.

Meanwhile in the commercial sector, Russell Taylor Group is continuing to supply teams of contract joiners, decorators and labourers as the £5.6 million refurbishment of a major international electronics company’s UK headquarters in the North of England nears completion.

After a recent private tour of the newly fitted-out Leeds building, Gerard added: “We are immensely proud to have supplied the temporary contract workforce for the whole of this six-month programme.

“We were initially asked by our client to see the original plans and drawings early in 2021 and then to be invited to see the almost-finished project, ahead of the official opening ceremony, was an absolute honour.

“Exciting new client relationships like these will further strengthen our involvement in the fit out and redevelopment of leisure, retail and commercial expansion programmes throughout the UK as a revitalised construction industry continues to bolster the national economy.”