04 / SERVICES
Staff Training & Development.
I've trained everyone from people who have never pulled a pint in their life to managers who've been running venues for years. One thing I've learned is that everyone picks things up differently, and there's no point delivering the world's greatest training session if nobody remembers a thing about it the following week.
WHAT I DO
What this involves.
Training has been a big part of my job for pretty much my entire hospitality career. I work with you to understand what your team needs, where they could benefit from additional guidance and how best to deliver training that fits around the way your venue operates.
That might mean getting new starters comfortable behind the bar, improving product knowledge, refining service standards or spending time with your management team. I can put together training sessions and supporting materials suited to your business, rather than expecting everyone to work through the same generic programme.
I also think training should be something people actually enjoy. Hospitality is a practical industry, and I've always found that getting people involved and giving them the opportunity to practise what they're learning makes a much bigger difference than sitting through hours of someone talking at them.
AREAS COVERED
What we can work on.
- Making great first impressions
- Knowing what you're selling
- Making better drinks
- Getting new starters up to speed
- Making service run smoothly
- Building confident managers
EXPERIENCE
Learning on the job goes both ways.
I've spent years training hospitality teams, from new starters learning the basics to experienced managers taking on more responsibility. I've also worked as an openings trainer for a national restaurant group, helping prepare teams for new venues and getting everyone comfortable with the standards and procedures they would be working with. One thing that experience has taught me is that being good at something doesn't automatically make you good at teaching it. Being able to explain things clearly, adapt your approach and recognise when someone needs a little more time or a different explanation is just as important as knowing the subject yourself. I've had plenty of opportunities to develop those skills over the years, and I genuinely enjoy seeing people become more confident in their work. There's something particularly satisfying about watching someone who was nervous on their first shift become the person everyone else goes to for help.