Free People 1st event to focus on Olympic-style training

Hospitality businesses can learn to benefit from the kind of customer service training used by staff and volunteers at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, thanks to a free event being laid on by the People 1st Training Company.

The event, at London's Hospitality House on 17 October, will also demonstrate an innovative new way to deliver apprenticeships online.

The People 1st Training Company said it had been driven to lay on the event after a recent survey by findcourses.co.uk revealed that development and training was the biggest factor in keeping employees satisfied - 39% of respondents cited it as a major influence, while only 6% mentioned higher salaries.

Attendees will hear a presentation on the WorldHost customer service training programme, which was used to successfully train tens of thousands of staff and volunteers for the London 2012 Games and includes modules on serving customers with disabilities and those from other cultures.

They will also find out how they can achieve a nationally-recognised badge of excellence for their customer service through the WorldHost Recognition Programme.

Sharon Glancy, managing director of the People 1st Training Company, said: "Customer service is still a major issue for hospitality businesses - 88% say it's the most important skills need for their business in the next five years. We're also facing a shortage of skilled managers, and while lots of businesses recognise that apprenticeships are a key route to filling that gap (45% say they'd consider employing apprentices), identifying the right solution for your business can be a challenge."

"That's why we developed both WorldHost and Apprentice 1st and this event is a great opportunity for employers to find out how they can use these solutions to develop their staff and grow their business.

"They'll also get a sneak peek at the incredibly impressive Hospitality House, which they will be able to book and use for their own purposes in future, and there will be plenty of time for attendees to speak with our experts and network with their hospitality colleagues."

The 'Training Solutions on the (Hospitality) House' event will take place at Hospitality House, East Finchley, from 1:30pm-5pm on 17 October.