Hospitality sector urged to take advantage of training programmes
A leading Wirral based training provider is urging businesses in the hospitality sector to seek expert advice on plugging the skills gaps across the industry.
Scientiam says employers should look at training programmes such as apprenticeships and Train to Gain, after a report showed that more than a quarter of hospitality firms employ staff that are not fully proficient. 26 per cent of hospitality businesses said they had staff that were not up to the job, compared to 19 per cent two years ago.
According to People 1st’s annual State of the Nation survey, customer service remains the biggest issue, with 65 per cent of hospitality businesses who reported skills gaps stating that their staff lacked the necessary customer service skills.
Other shortage areas identified in the report – carried out in association with ABTA and the British Hospitality Association – included chefs, management, leadership and IT skills.
Scientiam, which has offices in the Wirral, Liverpool, Runcorn and Warrington, runs a variety of successful training programmes in the hospitality sector.
Mandi O’Shea, managing director, said that although the figures were worrying, businesses can take advantage of government funded training programmes to ease the skills shortages.
“The hospitality sector is massive in the North West and plays a vital part in our region’s economy,” she said. “These figures show a lack in confidence in staff in many areas. However, apprenticeships are an ideal way to train up young people in the workplace. This would help to plug the skills gaps and it is essential that we develop and bring through younger generations of skilled workers in the hospitality sector, as the report shows that is what it is crying out for.”
Scientiam runs apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships in Hospitality Services and Food and Drink. The programmes allow young people to develop a wide range of skills, such as front of office, customer care, restaurant and bar service, housekeeping duties and basic food preparation/cooking and service.
Mandi added: “If employers in the hospitality sector are thinking of taking on apprentice, we can analyse exactly what they want and match them up with a suitable candidate. We then conduct all the training and assessments, taking away that headache from the employer.
“We also run the Train to Gain programme, which focuses specifically on each individual’s skills shortage. An employer can come to us having identified areas they need a member of staff to improve in, and we assess which T2G training course is right for them.
“Scientiam can send a trainer into the work place to ensure that no inconvenience is caused by staff taking time off. At the end of the programme the employee will have a qualification and the extra skills necessary to do a job to a high standard, and the employer will of course benefit from this.”
For further information on Scientiam’s services email john.watts@scientiam.co.ukor call any member of the Scientiam team on 0151 650 1678.
