| The hospitality industry has traditionally been a | | | | accountable to government authorities. |
| workplace with high staff turnover. Being seasonal | | | | If you regularly have to hire newly-trained staff, |
| and involving shift work, hospitality jobs are | | | | find an RTO that you know turns out quality |
| popular with students and travellers. As far as | | | | graduates; a training facility that is in touch with |
| hospitality industry training is concerned, the key, | | | | their customers - the employers in the hospitality |
| often, is to have system in place that requires | | | | industry - and listens to their needs. Find a tertiary |
| minimum training of transient staff. But that only | | | | institution that spends time not only teaching |
| puts more weight and responsibility on your | | | | students the technical skills and knowledge base |
| permanent staff, and the need to train and retain | | | | to do their job correctly, but also places key |
| them is even more important. | | | | emphasis on teaching them the 'people skills' that |
| The hospitality industry in Australia is one of the | | | | are just as essential in the industry. 'Service with |
| leading employers in the country. There is a wide | | | | a smile' is nowhere more important than in the |
| array of training facilities and opportunities, and | | | | hospitality industry. Look for RTOs that produce |
| training and qualifications are regulated by | | | | graduates that know how vital that saying is in |
| government, and must adhere to guidelines at | | | | their job. |
| national and state level. | | | | You can indirectly monitor the quality of staff |
| Why should you invest time and money in | | | | training by getting to know the organizations that |
| hospitality industry training for your staff? | | | | train workers in your sector. You will soon |
| Encouraging your staff to upgrade their skills | | | | discover, through their hospitality industry training |
| means you will have better-qualified and | | | | programs, which organizations teach the skills that |
| better-informed staff. The direct result - better | | | | you would like to find in your workers. Not only |
| service to your customers. The indirect result - | | | | practical skills and general industry knowledge, but |
| staff who know that you value their skills and | | | | also human interaction and problem-solving skills, |
| care about promoting their career, meaning you | | | | besides training on the importance of |
| will have more chances of retaining them for the | | | | accountability and trust. Once you find an RTO |
| long run. | | | | that you can rely on to provide you with skilled |
| Training your staff involves time and money, and | | | | and reliable workers, it pays to build a good |
| making the right choice can have significant | | | | two-way relationship. They provide you with |
| outcomes on the success of your business. | | | | well-trained staff, and you provide them with |
| Insisting on hiring staff that are properly trained | | | | work opportunities for their graduates. |
| may mean that you will be looking harder and | | | | Another aspect of hospitality industry training that |
| longer for the right person. But remember, your | | | | many employers find beneficial is an |
| staff are your ambassadors, and you need to | | | | apprenticeship program. Even though you are |
| have the best trained people, so they will give | | | | dealing initially with untrained people, by working |
| your guests and customers the best service you | | | | with an agency that provides recruitment, training |
| can provide. | | | | and apprenticeship services, you can reap the |
| The hospitality industry, more than most | | | | benefits of the apprenticeship program, which |
| workplaces, offers a range of diversification and | | | | follows national guidelines for both employers and |
| career development choices for employees. | | | | trainees. The agency will carefully select the |
| Encourage your staff to take advantage of that - | | | | apprentice, help manage the training and |
| to stay up-to-date with their training, and upgrade | | | | paperwork and oversee the qualifications process. |
| their qualifications by taking courses during the | | | | There are financial incentives, partial funding and |
| off-peak season. | | | | flexible plans, including part time and temporary |
| Many sectors in the industry, and the food & | | | | placements. Trainees that are serious and keen to |
| beverage in particular, offer short courses that | | | | progress in the industry tend to stay loyal to |
| give employees the opportunity to gain | | | | employers who gave them their first opportunity |
| qualifications that will give them more flexibility in | | | | to start their career. You will stand a better |
| their job. Either higher qualification in their existing | | | | chance of retaining good, well trained staff. |
| expertise, or diversifying into other related fields. | | | | And lastly, an increasingly popular and |
| It also means more flexibility to you, the | | | | cost-effective way of training and encouraging |
| employer, in rostering staff and filling in for absent | | | | your staff to strive for higher performance is |
| workers. Many training schools offer night or | | | | team building training. Team-building workshops |
| online courses that can be combined with the | | | | and seminars are not only fun, they aim to |
| work schedule. Even if it means a few hours of | | | | develop leadership and social skills, teamwork, and |
| training at the expense of work, it will pay on the | | | | positive interaction between staff. They improve |
| long run to have staff that are well-qualified and | | | | communications in the workplace, and the overall |
| know that you value their skills. | | | | motivation and performance of your staff. Your |
| When dealing with training institutions, always | | | | crew will emerge from these hospitality industry |
| choose a recognised training organization (RTO). | | | | training seminars a more coherent and focused |
| This way you know that their qualifications are | | | | team, bringing fresh ideas back to the workplace |
| recognized, and they are regularly audited and are | | | | and a positive outlook. |