Three new hospitality apprenticeship standards in development
Quote of the Week
"I’ve no problem in confessing that I’ve not had any time to read for the past two years. I read a lot of notes, a lot of legislative texts, news, AFP stories, but I read very little."
France's new minister of culture, Fleur Pellerin, is not off to a great start. Her rather shocking admission during a television interview followed another social gaffe - being unable to name any of the recent Nobel prize-winning French novelist Patrick Modiano's books. Given that her job description entails promoting and protecting the arts, it is no surprise that French critics have called for her to step down from her position.
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Person of the Week
Tim and Kit Kemp were awarded Hoteliers of the Year at the Independent Hotel Show last week. The husband and wife duo were recognized for their successful boutique hotel group, Firmdale Hotels, which they have have grown to nine properties including the recently opened Ham Yard Hotel.
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Article of the Week
Getting a kick out of hospitality
Nicholas Dickinson's career illustrates why hospitality can offer such a varied and exciting path, full of challenges and opportunities. Nicholas' past has seen him work with some of the industry’s leading players, build and sell hotel businesses, open an international resort in the heart of the economic fall, and most recently renovate the quintessentially English hotel, Congham Hall, in Norfolk. EP met with Nicholas to discuss his journey and what lies ahead.
"I was advised, 'if you are going to be successful in this game, you need to get a hell of a kick out of giving people a good time' – that was some of the best advice I have ever had. There is something very fulfilling about giving people a memorable experience.
Read the full article here
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Let EP enhance your agenda
- October 28th - The emerging leaders combined with some sector stalwarts are being hosted tonight at the Glion Campus in Roehampton from 5.30pm for a private tour of the new venue and also the know more about the course
- October 29th - American Express will host the 2nd in a series of breakfast forums from 8am to 10am, looking at employee engagement & retention through means other than the ubiquitous pay rise or cash bonus. This will involve case studies from industries other than those in the hospitality sector and some expert analysis of trends affecting employment.
- November 12th - EP and partners are always looking at ways to help entrepreneurs be successful in their endeavours. As well as operations and strategic guidance and support, it's also imperative that entrepreneurs get the best legal & financial advice. With this in mind, we are hosting a financial forum on the morning of Wednesday 12th November from 8am to 10am focusing on what financial decisions need to be made & implemented in a business to assure greatest returns in the event of a sale or buy-out. Featuring a presentation from our expert partners at WMT LLP, the forum will afford you the opportunity to find out more about how to plan your exit from the business and make the most of the available tax breaks, along with ample time for your questions throughout.
- November 12th - Bringing together the leading boutique hotels from across the globe, The World Boutique Hotel Awards is hosting its third annual ceremony on the evening of November 12th. The night promises to be a true gala of international hospitality recognizing hoteliers who have built their hotels from a dream and vision. For more information on tickets and attending the event please contact Edward Gabbai
HOSPACE 2014
The HOSPA Conference and IT Exhibition (HOSPACE 2014) is a one-day annual conference hosted by HOSPA, the Hospitality Professionals Association (formerly BAHA) which is the UK's leading educational organisation for professionals involved in financial management, revenue management and IT within the hospitality industry. This year HOSPACE will be held on Thursday, 20 November 2014, at the Sofitel London Heathrow at Terminal 5
To attend any of these events or for more information on the initiatives outlined, please contact Arlene McCaffrey
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Industry News in brief
Three new hospitality apprenticeship standards in development
- Apprenticeship standards for commis chefs, chefs de partie and hospitality team members are being developed as part of phase 3 of the government’s apprenticeship trailblazer programme.
- Having already approved two standards for chef apprenticeships this past August, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has now announced that the hospitality trailblazer, led by Hilton Worldwide and managed by People 1st, will continue to be involved in the apprenticeship reform.
- Chair of the hospitality trailblazer Kathryn Porter, divisional resourcing director, Hilton Worldwide, said: "The trailblazer work is important to all employers as we are defining a standard to job roles and agreeing what great performance looks like. It’s essential that the standards and the apprenticeship assessment meets the needs for all types and sized of employers.
- Among the companies that want to increase their apprenticeship intake under the new system in Lancaster Hotel. The firm is leading SME consortium that is looking to ensure the new programme fits into their business models and can be managed without resources dedicated solely to apprenticeships.
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Positive outlook for foodservice operators as food sales rise
- Over two thirds of operators have seen an increase in food sales year-on-year, according to the latest Eating Out-Look report by Horizons and JRA.
- The report, which surveyed 300 businesses including hotels, restaurants, pubs and quick service operators, presented a largely positive outlook for operators. Of the operators that had seen an increase in food sales, 26% described this as a "large" increase. Around half of the operators also said they are serving more meals at weekends at the moment than they did at this time last year.
- In addition to this, fewer operators are taking cost cutting actions this year as opposed to last, with fewer cutting staff hours or freezing wages. Indeed, 28% of businesses have increased staff numbers this year.
- 'Horizons' director of marketing and business development, said; "This is a really encouraging result and one that reassures us that recovery in the hospitality sector is well underway. Our previous operators survey (May 2014) showed that businesses were much more optimistic about future trading, with a third expecting increases in food sales."
- The survey showed the latest trends in customer purchasing too. It revealed that fewer customers are buying lower priced meals, 22% this year as opposed to 33% last year. Operators also reported that they saw fewer customers using meals deals or promotions, 34% compared to 41% the year before. The operators' perceptions of average spend per head also increased.
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London warned against losing out over UK devolution
- London must not be overlooked in the debate over further devolution to the regions, a think-tank has said. It called for a radical transfer of powers from Whitehall to City Hall to tackle the capital’s housing crisis, improve its public services and invest in its infrastructure.
- The Centre for London is demanding that London be given more power over its taxes – particularly property taxes – to ensure that it can meet its housing needs, as recommended by the London Finance Commission last year.
- The think-tank also wants the capital to have more control over its public services and greater powers to set a London minimum wage to improve the lot of ordinary people struggling to cope with expensive living and housing costs in the capital.
- Ben Rogers, author of the Manifesto for London and director at the Centre for London, told the Financial Times that London was in danger of becoming invisible in the debate over devolution in the wake of the Scottish referendum on independence. “London is hardly ever talked about. It is all about Scotland, Wales and to some extent the cities of the north,” he said.
Read the full article here