The Hospitality Guild has launched a new kitemark system to help organisations promote their commitment to training and developing staff and to raise professional standards in the hospitality industry.
The system has been developed in partnership with leading organisations in the industry and will be managed by the Hospitality Guild’s partner organisation, People 1st.
Annette Allmark, head of professional standards at People 1st, said that the kitemark system has been established after research highlighted the need for an external endorsement of training programmes that offered staff members excellent training and development opportunities.
She said: “We’ve been working to raise professional standards in the industry for a number of years and while we know of a number of employers who really do offer their team members fantastic training and career development opportunities, there was really nothing that recognised this officially.
“Our research showed that there was a desire for something like this, so we set about developing a new kitemark. Businesses can have either individual training courses or entire training programmes endorsed and it has proven extremely popular, with two employer programmes already kitemarked.”
Beds & Bars and Spirit Pub Company have both had their staff training and development programmes kitemarked.
Donna Hewitson, group HR and training manager at Beds & Bars, said: “We were keen to kitemark our Footsteps Training Programme for many reasons. We use Footsteps to ensure team members have a clear idea of where a career with Beds and Bars can take them – and how they’re going to get there.
“The Footsteps Training Programme starts with entry-level positions and develops employees all the way up to a general manager level. It provides the end-to-end career guidance that’s so important in attracting and retaining the right staff for our business.
“Of course, it’s not just about our organisation. We want to play a part in raising the standards of professionalism within the industry and we believe the new kitemark can help do that. It’s a fantastic initiative and we’re absolutely thrilled that our programme has been recognised.”
