Get a little Jim-sight

Lessons from across the pond courtesy of Jim Sullivan - hugely respected US restaurant guru were recently published in En Passant." No more image assassins" includes straight talking comments such as this

"We elevated the customer and undervalued the crew leaving scores of young hourlyteams and junior managers overworked, underpaid and unappreciated, driving them away in droves."

The Fat Duck top again

The Good Food Guide has named The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, the UK’s best restaurant for the second consecutive year.

Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant scored an extremely rare 10 out of 10 in new 2009 edition of the guide.

Gordon Ramsay’s eponymous venture in Chelsea took second place with Marcus Wareing’s two-Michelin-starred Pétrus going up four places to pip Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons to third place.

Employers work together to attract new talent!

Those of us that have spent our careers working in the hospitality industry know it is a meritocracy where to quote an old boss of mine “if you are good enough you are old enough”. However, in the past we have not been very good at getting that message across to new young talent!

This will become increasingly important as the aging population and diminishing pool of new young talent work to make things ever more competitive.

In response to these challenges tonight, during Hollyoaks; see’s the first showing of a new TV advert which:

• Is the result of a collection of employers working together with People 1^st to produce a TV campaign asking young talent to think differently about a career in hospitality

• Highlights not only 8 ambassador employers but a new microsite dedicated to illustrating the opportunities offered by this industry and hooking talent up with good employers

This is exactly the type of thing we should be doing collectively and if you want to see the advert (because you missed it on TV or added it to your Facebook yet) visit www.greatplaces2work.co.uk

Academy calls for Talent to join the team!

Academy needs talent!

Do you want a role that utilises your skills while offering the opportunity to grow and develop in areas you have never experienced before?

Why do we have to seek out Cornell, Disney or Lausanne to provide the pinnacle of development learning for our talent in the Hospitality sector?

Over the coming year we will be building a team of bright, energetic, focused and talented individuals who can work together to develop and deliver our vision for "Excellence in training and development delivery through a network of nationally recognised Academies whether in:

• Industry workplaces

• Colleges

• Universities

• Bespoke Venues"

Forget Hierarchy, this team needs to assemble a range of skills where the most skilled in each area leads the team.

Skills and Experience Sought

Skills

• Communication - are you a great writer or a passionate and successful relationship builder

• Negotiation and Presentation - can you influence your audience with your passion and logic

• Networking - do you already have great or fledgling contacts list that you are committed to develop

• Financial and Planning - can create, control and manage budgetary delivery

• Leadership - can you inspire people to deliver the goals

• Marketing and Branding - have you developed / delivered marketing strategies that grow a brand

• IT - do you blog, social network or even have web design skills

Experience

• Of world class customer service standards and unleashing this in others

• Working with franchise systems

• Knowledge of benchmark training and development systems - perhaps Disney or McDonalds

• Hospitality Sector - have you a track record of operational or people development success in the sector

• Quality Control - have you developed / implemented QA processes and methodologies

• Partnership working - have you worked with government and its agents whether LSC, RDA or Central Government

• Management & Leadership - have you developed programmes or had an insight into the best solutions available

• Education - have you worked with colleges or universities and understood their motivations and considerations

• Food - have you got a love for great food and either are a qualified chef or just a desire to develop the necessary skills in the talent of tomorrow - ensuring they get the very best development support

If you have passion, drive and a burning desire to develop others then please share your expertise with us.

We will be building a team over the course of the year so if you believe this is for you drop me an e mail briefly explaining:

• why you feel this is right for you

• what you hope to gain from your time with the Hospitality Skills Academy

• how you can contribute - which area you believe you could lead the team

• your education and career highlights - only 3 highlights please

• which areas you know little or nothing about and would like to develop in

• where you live - national coverage is imperative as is working with regions to facilitate this

Please just be honest - no one can possibly deliver all the above and I expect each member of the team to benefit too

Compensation

• You will be rewarded for sharing your talents with us and to compensate for the fact that you might rather be surfing the waves or the net

• Packages will be commensurate with what you bring to the party and the role you are offered - operational or support

Timings

• There is no deadline we will phase the development of the team during the course of its first three years but we intend to recruit a minimum of 6 people during the first year.

Want to be in at the start? - better get the e mail drafted and sent to lindsay.campbell@people1st.co.uk  

Its a journey not for the faint hearted - but we will have fun while building something very special of huge value to the industry

David McHattie Announced as CEO

David McHattie will step into the new role of chief executive for the newly approved National Skills Academy for Hospitality, it was announced today (15th July). 

The announcement was made jointly with People 1st and recently appointed chairman Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association.

McHattie is taking the reins of the £100 million venture in September. His previous role was Chief Operating Officer at People 1st.

Bob Cotton commented: "This is the first significant step in assembling a talented board and executive for the Academy.

"David and I will be discussing plans through the summer, and industry should expect a period of radio silence before we launch our plan in the autumn. I am delighted that David has agreed to lead this critical skills initiative for the industry."

David McHattie commented: "I am proud to have been part of the team at People 1st which has done a remarkable job developing the vision and winning Government support for the Academy. I am delighted to take on such an exciting role of turning the impressive vision into a reality that will transform skills delivery for our industry."

People 1st has, in the last 4 months, announced two tranches of major investment into the industry worth more £212 million.

As well as the National Skills Academy bid, the Sector Skills Council also announced a £112 million "compact" - a deal to improve access to training for employers.

People 1st Chief Executive Brian Wisdom said "David's appointment is a logical step towards building the enhanced skills capability that the sector will need to see itself through the difficult economic environment ahead."