Hospitality businesses should Train to Gain
Restaurants, bars and hotels could benefit largely from using the Learning and Skill Council’s bespoke Train to Gain service, improving product and service quality and reducing staff turnover.
According to research conducted by the LSC, the hospitality industry trains more of its employees than any other, yet it has one of the highest rates of staff turnover in the country. And despite the average hospitality company spending £4m on staff training each year, one in five still report massive skills gaps.
But research has found that two-thirds of the businesses using the Train to Gain service have seen an increase in staff productivity, and product service and quality, which in turn has had a beneficial knock-on effect on staff retention.
John Cridland, Deputy Director General of the CBI, said: “Unlocking the talent of employees through training can have a direct impact on a company’s ability to flourish in the long term. A well-trained workforce is indispensable to its success and Train to Gain offers businesses tangible support and solutions to respond and excel.”
Businesses using Train to Gain also realised other indirect benefits from using the service, including increased profit margins, improvements to staff loyalty and a higher percentage of staff promotions. Almost three-quarters of employers also reported an improvement in their staff’s skills and ability to do their jobs.
Paul Holme, Director of Skills for Employers at the LSC, said: “Our latest research shows that Train to Gain is helping to unlock staff potential through recommending and delivering relevant, job-specific training. I urge more organisations to follow suit and get involved and see the benefits of investing in training for the long term.”
The government has also recently allocated £300m to industry sectors, including hospitality, to help employers improve staff skills in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
