The Importance of Training in Hospitality

Securing a workforce for the future has long been a challenge for the hospitality industry, with Millennials and now Generation Z occupying many of the more junior positions across the sectors, including bar staff, waiting staff, and kitchen runners. Research has shown that lack of career progression is one of the top reasons people leave the industry, and although training and development can’t always combat this directly, investment in your employees and a robust training and development strategy can go a long way.

Why is training important?

The hospitality and tourism industry in the UK spans across several business sectors, including food and drinks businesses, hotels, recreation, and more. According to UKHospitality, the sector employs 2.9 million people and generates £130 billion in economic activity for the UK economy each year. With growth of nearly 20% in the last five years among hosting and foodservice facilities alone, there is no doubt about the additional need for training and developing staff across the industry.

45% of the workforce in hospitality is believed to be under the age of 30, while the annual turnover of staff is around 31% (meaning more than three out of 10 workers leave their role within a year). As Millennials and Generation Z begin to occupy more roles within the industry, more ambitious young people are looking for better career progression in hospitality and to form long-term careers.

How training will help your business

Lack of career prospects is one of the top three reasons people cited for leaving the sector in 2018. Investment in your employees' learning and development will increase your chances of retaining employees, as they see it as an investment in talent and personnel. As a result of increased morale and staff satisfaction, developing a robust learning and development strategy with the inclusion of eLearning will also lead to greater customer satisfaction and ultimately, increased revenue and profits.

Not only will training increase morale, a learning management system or compliance management system will help with regulatory compliance. Businesses must comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for fire risk assessment, the Health and Safety Act 1974, among other laws and regulations.

Investment in hospitality staff’s learning and development can also be linked to increased revenue. On average, the quality of service for more experienced or better-trained staff is better, which leads to happier customers and increased spending as a result. Your staff will need to be well trained in a broad range of skills such as customer service, food safety, time management, and even manual handing – all of which can be delivered through eLearning.

Unlike face-to-face training, eLearning allows training and development managers to ensure every member of staff is trained to the same high standards so that customers and consumers receive the same great experience with every interaction with the business. eLearning can also be measured against KPIs, meaning targets can be set before the delivery of any training to measure business impact.

To discover how we can transform your learning and development strategy, speak to one of our Learning Technology Consultants today for a free consultation.