By Business & Finance 
Hannah Wrixon, Get the Shifts
In our Ones to Watch section, we highlight some of the top movers and shakers. This week we feature Get the Shifts.
What is it?
Get The Shifts is an innovative, tech-centric staffing solution for the hospitality and events industry. The start-up is shaking up the sector by supporting bars, restaurants, cafes, festivals and the like to source experienced, temporary hospitality staff like baristas, bar workers, waiting staff and promo staff in their area quickly and efficiently. It empowers the hospitality industry to no longer accept sub-standard staff and timely recruitment procedures. Its technology is incredibly innovative helping clients in the sourcing of staff but also in managing those hired. A business can browse through hundreds of trained, pre-screened staff and offer a shift from an app on their phone up to three hours before a shift is due to begin.
Its unique approach includes extensive training for all its shift workers, known as ‘Superstars’ who can accept work whilst on the go meaning they never miss an opportunity that suits them. The technology gives security to both Superstars and clients with Superstars checking in and out using GPS and clients using facial recognition to ensure the right people show up. A client can even sign off on extra hours worked there and then to avoid time-consuming paperwork! They can add Superstars to their favourites list and also rate the staff to help them secure further work.
Currently available throughout Ireland with the majority of its work based in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, Get the Shifts has supplied over 75,000 hours’ worth of shifts since it launched in 2016 and has created over 500 casual roles.
Who’s behind it?
The Co. Clare based company was founded by Hannah Wrixon in 2016. Previous to Get The Shifts, Hannah founded Last Minute Minders, a similar product that connects parents to fully-qualified and vetted childminders in their area. In 2016, the gig economy was growing in credibility and popularity with companies like Uber and Deliveroo focusing more on the Irish market and increasing awareness around casual work, Hannah realised her last Minute Minders model would translate well. From trying to forecast the right number of staff to combatting no-shows to the fluid nature of the industry, recruitment and resourcing is a historic problem in the hospitality industry something Hannah who is the daughter of a publican and managed bars in the past, knew all too well.
How is it funded?
Get The Shifts is largely self-funded relying on its own revenue. Get The Shifts charges clients an hourly rate for the job in question which covers the sourcing and payment of the Get The Shifts Superstars who cover the shift. The company works with clients on a need-only basis so there are no retainer fees or high admin costs.
80% of its work comes through client referrals and Hannah’s vast network which she has built up through programs like Going for Growth and New Frontiers.
Future plans?
Get The Shifts plans to grow its contribution to employment by creating a further 700 casual jobs in Ireland and Northern Ireland in the next 12 months, bringing the total number of ‘Superstars’ on its books to over 1,200. The company has just secured its first contract outside of Ireland which is set to kick off in Belfast this December. The company is on track to have secured 60% of the temporary hospitality staff market in Ireland and will also be looking at version 2 of its software, with a view to providing it as a stand-alone product.
