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Supporting The Hospitality Industry

Details: Written by Kate Hutchinson |
 Published:

Waitress in apron and holding a notepad

No sector was more greatly affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic, than the Hospitality industry. As the third largest private sector employer in the UK, the impact was widespread and in some cases financially devastating. Bars, hotels, B&B’s and all other hospitality trades had to completely overhaul their approach to customer service, kitchen safety and general hospitality management. These measures required additional investments and operational adjustments, further straining budgets and resources well beyond their capability. 3 years on, job vacancies in the hospitality sector are higher than at pre-pandemic levels and new challenges have arisen, with 83% citing rising costs and labour shortages as key risks to growth in 2023. The Skills Network is proud to partner with the British Institute of Innkeeping (BIIAB) and Skills & Education Group to help hospitality staff navigate and overcome these labour challenges with easy and affordable skills training solutions. Offering expertly crafted learning content suitable for a wide range of roles across the food and beverage industry including Award for Personal License Holders and entry-level catering qualifications to name a few.

Alcohol Sales in the Hospitality Industry

3 cocktails lined up on a bar. Get licensed with our Level 2 Alcohol Personal Licence Holder online course.

A popular feature of any bar, hotel, restaurant or B&B (to name a few) is its ability to sell alcohol. In order to sell, supply or authorise the sale of alcohol on the premises, there must be a ‘personal licence holder’, this is an essential requirement.

In the UK, the personal licence holder award is a certification that allows individuals to sell alcohol legally. The personal licence holder award is governed by the Licensing Act 2003, which sets out the regulations and procedures for obtaining and maintaining a personal licence.

The Skills Network makes it simple for any business or individual to get licensed for the sale, supply and serving of alcohol. Want to know how? Just keep reading.

To become a personal licence holder, an individual must meet certain criteria and complete specific training.

Here are the key steps involved in obtaining a personal licence for the sale of alcohol:

  1. Eligibility: To apply for a personal licence, you must be at least 18 years old and have the right to work in the UK.
  1. Training: The first step is to complete an accredited training course known as the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH). This course covers various topics, including the legal responsibilities of a personal licence holder, the licensing objectives, age verification, dealing with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and the protection of children from harm.

The Skills Network is proud to partner with the British Institute of Innkeepers Awarding Body (BIIAB) to offer a range of online training courses and revision solutions to help an individual secure their APLH licence online.

Get licensed today with The Skills Network’s L2 Award for Personal License Holders (APLH).

  1. Application: Once you have completed the training and received your APLH certificate, you can apply for a personal licence from the local licensing authority in the area where you reside. You will need to provide certain documents, such as a completed application form, the training certificate, a criminal record check (DBS check), and the application fee.

Once granted by your local council or local authority (in the UK), a personal licence is valid for 10 years, after which it must be renewed.

With a personal licence, you can authorise the sale or supply of alcohol at licensed premises and be named as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) on the premises licence.

Why choose The Skills Network to get your APLH certificate?

The Skills Network Level 2 APLH Award is aimed at ensuring the responsible and lawful sale of alcohol, promoting public safety, and preventing crime related to alcohol consumption.

Benefits include:

  • 1-day course with instant exam results (subject to remote invigilation)
  • Paper certificate from British Institute of Innkeeping (BIIAB) for presentation to your local council or local authority
  • Lifetime qualification (England & Wales only)
  • External examination booking management
  • Fully online study and examination (no classrooms or exam centres-nothing!)
  • Self-paced study from anywhere are any time
  • Access to our award-winning Learning Management System (LMS) called EQUAL
  • Engaging and interactive study content

Interested?

Give us a call on 01757600684 and get licensed today with our Level 2 Award for Alcohol Personal Licence Holders.

As a multi-sector workforce development partner, we provide an array of high-quality e-learning content and technology, collaborating with businesses like yours to create individualised training plans that suit your unique needs.

Why not also take a look at our other online training courses suitable for the hospitality sector:

Catering Skills in the Hospitality Industry

Fork with spaghetti wrapped around it. Learn the basics with our Level 1 Essentials of Catering online course

Despite the current challenges, the UK catering market is set to show significant growth in the coming years, continuing in triple-digit figures until at least 2027. This growth is largely driven by B2B contract catering and government initiatives according to Cision.

In order to maximise the growth opportunity in this sector, the issue of labour shortages must be addressed with practical and introductory training solutions.

The Skills Network can help individuals aspiring to work in the catering sector with the essential skills they will require to deliver a memorable (and tasty) experience!

Our Level 1 Award in Essentials of Catering will help any individual or cohort of learners gain a well-rounded introduction to the catering industry.

Here is a quick overview of the course content:

Section 1: Understand personal hygiene and work clothing requirements.

In this section, you will be introduced to the safe and hygienic practices required in the kitchen. Learners will also explore how illnesses and accidents should be reported, and how to follow a ‘clean as you go’ policy.

Section 2: Understand basic knife skills.

In this section, you will explore basic knife skills, including which knives should be used for which tasks, the care and maintenance requirements for handling and sharpening knives, and the use of colour-coded chopping boards.

Section 3: Understand storage methods and temperature recording of foods.

In this section, the correct storage procedures and requirements for a variety of different foods will be covered, along with the correct procedure for logging temperatures, why monitoring is important, and the appropriate measures to take in the event of food storage or temperature changes.

Section 4: Understand food preparation processes.

In this section, you will cover how to prepare a variety of food in a safe and hygienic manner, and how to apply control procedures to minimise food wastage.

Section 5: Understand sandwich-making and storage procedures.

This section will explore how to produce a variety of sandwiches according to operational standards, how to store a variety of sandwiches, and what constitutes as a ‘high-risk food’ in relation to sandwiches.

Section 6: Understand food presentation.

In this section, the correct position for food on the plate to meet operation standards will be explored. Learners will also learn what a garnish is, how it should be presented, the appropriate garnishes for sweet and savoury dishes, and the requirements for garnishing a variety of sandwiches.

Section 7: Understand wastage disposal and recycling methods.

In this section, you will explore the appropriate methods for the disposal and recycling of food and non-food items and the controls to be applied.

Section 8: Understand how to use and clean machinery and equipment.

This section focuses on how to effectively operate and clean kitchen equipment, and the appropriate chemicals and equipment to be used.

Section 9: Understand how to safely and effectively clean workstations, walls and floors.

In the final section, appropriate equipment and chemicals to be used to safely clean a range of surfaces will be explored, as will the methods that should be used when cleaning floors, walls and workstations.

Interested?

Start your Level 1 Catering Essentials skills training today.

The Skills Network offers a variety of fully funded accredited courses, short courses and CPDs that can further build upon an individual's knowledge and understanding of the catering sector at Level 2, covering key areas such as:

Mastering catering skills is vital for success in the hospitality industry. The Skills Network can help businesses and individuals gain a well-rounded understanding of the catering industry, and provide a clear path for further professional development within the sector.

How to Excel in Hospitality Operations

Thumbs up review. Deliver high-quality service with our Level 2 Award in Licensed Hospitality Operations.

Training and development are crucial when delivering high-quality service within the hospitality industry and yet a staggering 86% of establishments offer only 10 hours or less of food and bar staff training.

Investing in training and development programs is essential for nurturing talent within your team. The Skills Network understand that budgets are likely to be stretched with little time or resource available to arrange vital skills training. That’s why we offer fully online training solutions that can be accessed whenever your shift patterns allow. No classrooms, no training centres- nothing!

Our Level 2 Award in Hospitality Operations is a fully online learning course and has been developed by industry experts to provide the fundamental knowledge required to run licensed premises and work in the hospitality sector.

Learners will explore a broad range of topics ranging from:

  • Health and Safety
  • Customer service
  • Catering
  • Recruitment and induction practices
  • Marketing and merchandising
  • Gaming and machine income

The final module will comprise of practice assessment which will prepare the learner for their external MCQ examination through the BIIAB site to achieve the qualification.

Interested?

Visit our webpage to read the full course content.

Why should you consider a Level 2 Award in Hospitality Operations with The Skills Network?

There are 3 crucial reasons why you should consider upskilling your food and beverage staff with the Skills Network.

1. Customer needs and expectations are evolving

Responding to changing customer needs in the hospitality industry is essential for business success. Over the years, customer expectations have rapidly evolved and continued to change at pace during the Covid 19 pandemic.

With advancements in technology, changing societal values, and a heightened focus on personalised experiences, customers now have higher expectations when stepping into a bar, hotel or restaurant.

Here are just some areas where customer expectations have changed:

  • Sustainable Ingredients- customers now expect all ingredients to be sustainable and ethically sourced

  • Diverse Menus - customers expect to have all dietary requirements catered for with readily available options for vegan diets, vegetarian and gluten-free to name a few

  • Convenience & Speed - the rise of mobile ordering apps and streamlined ordering processes show how the customer experience centres around quick service

  • Immersive Experience - customers want to be entertained not just fed! Eating and drinking are no longer a transaction, but a memorable experience.

  • Digital Profiling - the way you manage your digital reputation is everything thanks to the rise of review apps such as TrustPilot.

Our Level 2 Award in Licensed Hospitality Operations covers key areas centred around fundamental customer service principles and what the customer expects in 2023.

2. Labour shortages are set to continue

The Deloitte European Hotel Industry survey represents the views of over 100 senior figures from the hospitality industry, including owners, operators, lenders, developers and investors.

When asked what are the key threats to business growth for the Hotel Industry in 2023, survey respondents ranked shortage of skilled labour as the highest short-term risk.

The report states:

“The rise of staff shortages is a result of the pandemic, where many furloughed or laid off hospitality employees moved to different sectors or out of the labour force entirely. As demand for labour rises while supply is scarce, hoteliers will need to take a hands-on approach to cash management and managing their cost base, as passing costs onto the consumer through price and rate increases will be difficult going forward”.

Download the full Deloitte Hospitality Industry Report HERE.

Our Level 2 Award in Licensed Hospitality Operations has an entire module within the course dedicated to recruitment solutions, induction practices and staff management, helping your business attract and retain talent.

In addition, we can offer our Level 1 Award in Workers Rights and Labour Exploitation to ensure that you are compliant as an employer with elements such as job adverts, payslips and employment rights as well as understanding how to identify and prevent labour exploitation.

3. Budgets will continue to be stretched

In 2023, the hospitality industry has faced significant strain on budgets, presenting numerous challenges for businesses operating within this sector.

International port congestion, rising shipping rates and cost inflation all have a part to play in adding unprecedented pressure to business budgets. The war in Ukraine has added further strain to the global market, pushing food, materials and labour costs up by as much as 10.7% in Europe.Businesses that adapt and respond proactively to these unprecedented financial challenges can position themselves for long-term success.

The Skills Network is here to help hospitality businesses maximise their return on investment and deliver staff skills training at a minimal cost, meaning you can focus on providing exceptional customer service.

The Level 2 Award in Licensed Hospitality Operations online course explores the fundamentals of good financial management and cash control, meaning your business has the best chance of balancing the books whilst still delivering excellent customer service and upskilling your staff.

The Skills Network is here to support your hospitality business

To conclude, The Skills Network has a wide array of expertly developed and sector-specific training courses to support the hospitality industry through what is a challenging year for all businesses. Our courses are competitively priced and have a huge range of benefits including: