DNH report sparks government revamp of training policy

By Gaby Huddart

The Departments of National Heritage (DNH) and Education and Employment are jointly to revamp policy for training and qualifications in the hospitality industry.

The move follows yesterday's launch of a research report by the DNH - called People Working in Tourism and Hospitality - which forms the latest in its series of publications looking at how the sector can become more competitive.

The study, conducted for the DNH by Coopers & Lybrand and the London Business School, found much of the industry is characterised by a "vicious circle of recruitment difficulties, shortages of skilled and qualified staff, relatively low pay, high staff turnover and a relatively unattractive image as an employing sector".

It claims that the proportion of staff in the industry with no qualifications at all is above average for the UK, and points out that in countries such as France and Germany a much higher proportion of staff have vocational qualifications.

It also says that staff working in hospitality in the UK are less productive than those working in the industry in a number of countries, including France and the USA.

Speaking exclusively to Caterer about the report, Virginia Bottomley, secretary of state for National Heritage, said she wanted to give hospitality training courses and qualifications "a clearer focus".

"For example, there is a problem recruiting chefs around the country, but many people feel that traditional catering courses aren't what's needed for the future. We need a dialogue about this," she said.

"I will personally be meeting with Gillian Shephard [secretary of state for Education and Employment] to discuss what we need to do to take the industry forward," added Mrs Bottomley.

She said she wanted to build on the qualifications already available, expanding them so they provided the industry with the skills it needed.

Mrs Bottomley added that other action to be taken following the report would include publicising examples of good employment practice in the industry, and publicising the service that Training and Enterprise Councils and Business Link centres offer companies.

The DNH is also considering putting its full backing behind the Let's Make It First Choice in a bid to improve the industry's image among young people.

For a full copy of the report, telephone the DNH on 0171-211 6318.