Hundreds of workers from diverse backgrounds come together behind the scenes to help deliver world-class racing and a welcoming experience for racegoers.
York Racecourse is celebrating the diverse workforce behind the Ebor Festival, highlighting its valued relationship with staffing partner P.J Staffing and the opportunities the partnership creates for people from a wide range of backgrounds.
With more than 289,000 people welcomed through York Racecourse’s gates over the course of the previous season, the smooth running of major racing fixtures depends on a substantial team working behind the scenes. In 2026, Leeds-based P.J Staffing will supply around 500 people between May and October, working across seven operational teams including cleaning, litter picking, bars, kitchen porters, glass collecting, table clearing and supervision.
The partnership plays an important role in ensuring that racegoers experience a safe, welcoming and enjoyable day, while providing flexible employment opportunities for people at different stages of their careers and from different walks of life. From young people taking their first steps into hospitality and events, to workers who have progressed into supervisory positions, people who have moved to the UK from overseas and neurodivergent workers who have previously struggled to secure employment, P.J Staffing’s teams reflect the breadth of talent that exists within the hospitality and events sector.
Gavin Pattison, Facilities Manager at York Racecourse, said: “Major race meetings only work when you’ve got people you can rely on. A strong, trusted staffing partner removes risk, keeps standards high and allows us to focus on delivering a great experience for our racegoers. The P.J Staffing team are consistently professional, well-briefed, and dependable. They understand the pressures of raceday delivery and happily get on with the job.”
Annie Claxton, Head of People Operations at Legends Global, also highlighted the importance of having reliable staffing partners at major events. She said: “Delivering major race meetings such as York requires careful planning, coordination, and the support of trusted partners. Reliable staffing partnerships are fundamental to ensuring that large-scale events run smoothly from start to finish.”
With more than 289,000 people welcomed through York Racecourse’s gates over the course of the previous season, the smooth running of major racing fixtures depends on a substantial team working behind the scenes. In 2026, Leeds-based P.J Staffing will supply around 500 people between May and October, working across seven operational teams including cleaning, litter picking, bars, kitchen porters, glass collecting, table clearing and supervision.
The partnership plays an important role in ensuring that racegoers experience a safe, welcoming and enjoyable day, while providing flexible employment opportunities for people at different stages of their careers and from different walks of life. From young people taking their first steps into hospitality and events, to workers who have progressed into supervisory positions, people who have moved to the UK from overseas and neurodivergent workers who have previously struggled to secure employment, P.J Staffing’s teams reflect the breadth of talent that exists within the hospitality and events sector.
Gavin Pattison, Facilities Manager at York Racecourse, said: “Major race meetings only work when you’ve got people you can rely on. A strong, trusted staffing partner removes risk, keeps standards high and allows us to focus on delivering a great experience for our racegoers. The P.J Staffing team are consistently professional, well-briefed, and dependable. They understand the pressures of raceday delivery and happily get on with the job.”
Annie Claxton, Head of People Operations at Legends Global, also highlighted the importance of having reliable staffing partners at major events. She said: “Delivering major race meetings such as York requires careful planning, coordination, and the support of trusted partners. Reliable staffing partnerships are fundamental to ensuring that large-scale events run smoothly from start to finish.”
For P.J Staffing founder Paul McCallum, the partnership represents more than simply supplying workers. It is about recognising potential, creating opportunities and helping people develop skills and confidence that can support their future careers.
Paul said: “I started working in the catering and hospitality world at the young age of 14, so now at the still young age of 41, I understand how much one genuine opportunity can matter. Our role is to recognise what people can contribute and the value they bring, support them properly and give them the chance to grow and gain confidence in future career prospects.”
That ethos is reflected in the experiences of P.J Staffing’s workforce. Ethan joined P.J Staffing as a cleaner at York Racecourse at the age of 18. Seven years later, he is a supervisor, having worked across a number of roles including cleaning, bar work and pot washing. His first years with the company coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, when the demands placed on cleaning and operational teams changed dramatically.
“We had to adapt to the lockdowns and new regulations to keep everyone’s health and safety at the highest it could be. This also meant our roles as cleaners became more demanding and serious. Being thrown in the deep end like this only helped my skills grow faster and helped me with being able to handle jobs under pressure,” Ethan said.
Theresa’s journey with P.J Staffing demonstrates another side of the company’s approach to opportunity and progression. Having come to the UK from the Caribbean, she started as a cleaner and is now in her second year as a supervisor. She credits the variety of opportunities available through P.J Staffing with helping her build confidence and discover new strengths. “P.J Staffing has helped me by giving me the opportunity to work in a variety of roles, to learn and develop, and gain valuable skills and experience. This has helped show what I can do, and proven I can do things out of my comfort zone.”
Theresa said communication, positivity and respect are central to the way she approaches her role. “Good energy, communication, and a positive attitude, being determined to do a good job, and understanding that we all have different opinions, this is really important when supervising teams.” For her, feeling heard and supported is equally important.
Mark’s experience highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people who may face additional barriers when entering the workplace. Living with dyslexia and dyspraxia, he found that securing employment with P.J Staffing gave him an opportunity that other companies had not. “It gave me work when I was constantly being denied for work at other companies.”
Mark says the role plays to his strengths, particularly his enjoyment of working with people and his willingness to work long hours. Technology has also helped him work confidently, with tools including AI supporting him with reading and spelling.
His message to employers is simple: “We are people too, and we love to work and solve our problems.”
The stories of Ethan, Theresa and Mark demonstrate the wider impact of employment opportunities within the hospitality and events sector. At York Racecourse, their experiences sit alongside those of hundreds of other people working together throughout the racing season.
For P.J Staffing, the Ebor Festival is therefore not only an opportunity to support one of the UK’s most prestigious racing events. It is also a showcase for the diversity of the people behind the scenes and the different experiences, skills and perspectives they bring to the workplace.
As York Racecourse welcomes racegoers for the Ebor Festival, the partnership with P.J Staffing demonstrates how a diverse and well-supported workforce can help deliver an exceptional event, while giving people from all backgrounds the opportunity to build skills, confidence and careers along the way.
Paul said: “I started working in the catering and hospitality world at the young age of 14, so now at the still young age of 41, I understand how much one genuine opportunity can matter. Our role is to recognise what people can contribute and the value they bring, support them properly and give them the chance to grow and gain confidence in future career prospects.”
That ethos is reflected in the experiences of P.J Staffing’s workforce. Ethan joined P.J Staffing as a cleaner at York Racecourse at the age of 18. Seven years later, he is a supervisor, having worked across a number of roles including cleaning, bar work and pot washing. His first years with the company coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, when the demands placed on cleaning and operational teams changed dramatically.
“We had to adapt to the lockdowns and new regulations to keep everyone’s health and safety at the highest it could be. This also meant our roles as cleaners became more demanding and serious. Being thrown in the deep end like this only helped my skills grow faster and helped me with being able to handle jobs under pressure,” Ethan said.
Theresa’s journey with P.J Staffing demonstrates another side of the company’s approach to opportunity and progression. Having come to the UK from the Caribbean, she started as a cleaner and is now in her second year as a supervisor. She credits the variety of opportunities available through P.J Staffing with helping her build confidence and discover new strengths. “P.J Staffing has helped me by giving me the opportunity to work in a variety of roles, to learn and develop, and gain valuable skills and experience. This has helped show what I can do, and proven I can do things out of my comfort zone.”
Theresa said communication, positivity and respect are central to the way she approaches her role. “Good energy, communication, and a positive attitude, being determined to do a good job, and understanding that we all have different opinions, this is really important when supervising teams.” For her, feeling heard and supported is equally important.
Mark’s experience highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people who may face additional barriers when entering the workplace. Living with dyslexia and dyspraxia, he found that securing employment with P.J Staffing gave him an opportunity that other companies had not. “It gave me work when I was constantly being denied for work at other companies.”
Mark says the role plays to his strengths, particularly his enjoyment of working with people and his willingness to work long hours. Technology has also helped him work confidently, with tools including AI supporting him with reading and spelling.
His message to employers is simple: “We are people too, and we love to work and solve our problems.”
The stories of Ethan, Theresa and Mark demonstrate the wider impact of employment opportunities within the hospitality and events sector. At York Racecourse, their experiences sit alongside those of hundreds of other people working together throughout the racing season.
For P.J Staffing, the Ebor Festival is therefore not only an opportunity to support one of the UK’s most prestigious racing events. It is also a showcase for the diversity of the people behind the scenes and the different experiences, skills and perspectives they bring to the workplace.
As York Racecourse welcomes racegoers for the Ebor Festival, the partnership with P.J Staffing demonstrates how a diverse and well-supported workforce can help deliver an exceptional event, while giving people from all backgrounds the opportunity to build skills, confidence and careers along the way.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Danielle Windecker-Hilton
Sycamore Communications
danielle@sycamorecommunications.co.uk
07704.763269
Media Contact:
Danielle Windecker-Hilton
Sycamore Communications
danielle@sycamorecommunications.co.uk
07704.763269