Free training programmes for managers in the hospitality and tourism sector

Northern Regional College, in partnership with the other five Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland, is offering a series of free training programmes for managers in the hospitality and tourism sector.

The Department for the Economy funded Hospitality and Tourism Recovery Training Programme is designed to address the key challenges facing the sector as it moves out of lockdown and prepares to resume operations. The training is aimed managers and technical specialists of all levels and will include Management webinars and Technical masterclasses.

The Management Spotlight series, which will commence from 14th April, will focus on Skills Support; Attraction and Retention of Staff; Building Resilience; and the Changing Customer Service Needs. From May, the Technical Skills Series of masterclasses will promote skills development in areas such as AR and VR Technologies, and Podcasting for the Tourism industry, as well as interactive specialist Hospitality masterclasses in Butchery, Baking and Patisserie, Poultry, Chocolatier and Cocktail Making.

Eligible businesses will also be offered a Level 3 accredited qualification in Leadership and Management that will have a specific focus on the skills needed to boost the economy, as identified by representatives from the hospitality and tourism industry. The ILM/CMI (Institute of Leadership Management/Chartered Management Institute) courses will be available across all six FE Colleges from April – June.

Encouraging eligible businesses to make the most of this opportunity to allow their staff to upskill and acquire accredited qualifications, Roisin McKee, Project Director for the HATS (Hospitality and Tourism Skills) Network, confirmed: “As the tourism and hospitality industry builds back from the disruption caused by Covid-19, it is imperative that the workforce hold the skills, knowledge and behaviours to be productive and help businesses emerge stronger from the crisis and flourish.

“I urge businesses to act now and take up the opportunities offered in this recovery skills support series to develop and refresh the skills of their workforce. Building back with a better skilled workforce will provide the much-needed reinforcement to deliver a tourism product that attracts visitors and encourages repeat business.”

Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: “The tourism and hospitality sector has been hit incredibly hard by the pandemic. This training programme will provide significant skills support for the industry as it seeks to prepare for recovery, offering recognised, accredited qualifications and help make our unique tourism and hospitality offering even more appealing to both local and external visitors when the time for reopening comes.”

To register for the free online Tourism and Hospitality support programmes at Northern Regional College, go to https://www.nrc.ac.uk/hospitality