Hospitality businesses with up to 250 staff will be able to claim free passes for the e-learning programme, which includes elements of the training used to prepare thousands of staff and volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
People 1st claims customer service is still a major issue for hospitality businesses in the UK, with 61% reporting that customer handling skills need improvement within their workforce and 38% saying their staff would benefit from further training in monitoring and solving customer service problems.
The course, which lasts around 90 minutes, gives staff an introduction into how to connect with customers, communicate effectively with disabled customers and those from other cultures. It also includes opportunities for participants to test their skills and knowledge and ultimately learn why their role has such an impact on customers’ experience. Participants receive an official WorldHost certificate on completing the programme.
Sharon Glancy, managing director of the People 1st Training Company, commented: “With the busy Christmas period coming up, we wanted to give small and medium businesses something that will help them wow their customers and secure repeat business over the quieter weeks that follow.
“We appreciate this is a hectic time for hospitality businesses, which makes it especially difficult to release staff for formal training, so free access to our WorldHost Insights is our Christmas present to the industry.
“As the training programme is online, it can be accessed any time, any place – staff can complete it at home, in bite-sized chunks during quiet periods of their working day or before/after they start their shift. It’s a great way for small businesses to use a proven training product at a time and place which is convenient to them.”
The 5,000 free passes will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Businesses and employees can claim their passes by visiting http://sme.worldhost.co.uk