Hospitality Guild launches kitemark standards system
The new system has been developed in partnership with leading organizations in the industry and will be managed by the Guild’s sister body People 1st.
Businesses can have individual training courses or entire programmes endorsed by the body. Multinational hospitality business Beds and Bars and Spirit Pub Company have both already had their staff training and development programmes kitemarked.
Group HR and training manager at Beds and Bars Donna Hewitson said the company was keen to kitemark their Footsteps Training Programme to “raise the standards of professionalism” within the industry.
“It’s a fantastic initiative and we’re absolutely thrilled that our programme has been recognized,” she said.
Meanwhile head of learning and development at Spirit Mark Peters added that the kitemark system also has a big impact on staff perceptions of the training offered.
“Of course we were keen to make sure our company’s training was recognised because we truly believe that it does offer excellent career development, but there was also the more altruistic desire to contribute to the professionalisation of the industry,” he said.
“The fact that the Hospitality Guild has now also recognised and endorsed our training really validates the work that we’ve put in and the experiences that we deliver.”
Annette Allmark, head of professional standards at People 1st, said the scheme was established after research highlighted the need for external endorsement of training programmes that offered staff 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.”
Allmark added that the kitemark system will help improve staff retention within the industry.
“It has been clear for a number of years that the hospitality industry needs to do more to promote the career opportunities and pathways it has to offer, along with the fantastic training available to ensure that people are given the chance to develop new skills as they progress in their career.
“The kitemark system will recognise training courses and programmes that do this and we know that offering quality training can have a huge impact on retention.”
For more information on kitemarking training courses and programmes or to submit an application, visit www.hospitalityguild.co.uk/kitemarking
