HTF's trainingguidelines signal blue skies ahead

Have you ever been given the "Biggest Jigsaw Puzzle in the World", or one like it? It has more than 10,000 pieces and lots of blue sky. It's difficult and very intimidating to do and, when it arrives, it probably gets looked at with concern and then put in the attic, along with the Rubik's Cube, half-finished Working Steam Engine and the do-it-yourself Tibetan tapestry. It is placed, in fact, with the things that we never have time to finish and so often never start.

Suppose an evening came, however, in a rare moment of slack business, when you felt tempted to take down the Biggest Jigsaw in the World? Go on, bite the bullet. You study the picture on the box. Perhaps you like the look of it. There is a huge expanse of blue sky, and a choppy sea and several sailing ships all the same colour. But there's something appealing about the finished scene.

So you clear some space. You tip out all the pieces and turn them face up. Everything's in place: you've got the tools, the time and the tenacity. Trouble is, you don't know how or where to begin.

At this point an old friend comes into the room and starts grouping all the blue sky together, all the choppy sea together and all the sailing boats. Suddenly it's not so daunting a task and, before you know where you are, the puzzle is complete. You liked the picture on the box; now you've got the real thing.

The experience is rather like attending an industry breakfast at Westminster College and hearing about the Hospitality Training Foundation's new strategy for education and training.

We all know that training in the industry is a priority. We all know that we have to work together (see this column last week). Everyone likes the picture on the box, but not everyone knows how to achieve the end result. Not everyone knows how to get going or whom to follow.

The HTF, acting in its capacity as the industry's National Training Organisation, has pulled together many of the disparate bodies that have input into training and education. It has put together a scheme that offers practical guidelines on how employers can get involved in improving young people's perceptions of the industry, on attracting entrants to the industry and keeping them in the industry once they've started.

It was given the support of the Secretary of State for Education and Employment at its launch. (Remember, six months ago, Government ministers were still letting the industry down by their non-appearance at functions.) It has the support of senior leaders in the business. It needs the support of the industry at large if it is to work.

It may be difficult and intimidating but, if it does work, then the blue sky will be worth the effort. Give it your best shot.

Forbes Mutch

Editor

Caterer & Hotelkeeper