Blogs

Real people: How experience and skills empowered me to look elsewhere

COVID-19 has forced many out of work and into thinking ‘what now?’.  Finding something meaningful that not only pays the bills but also builds upon existing skills might seem impossible in the current climate.  But it’s important to remember and take stock, having experience in one role or industry, doesn’t have to confine us. It can make us stronger. 

Navigating turbulent times – travel sector embraces resilience

The unexpected news that tourists arriving from Spain will have to self-quarantine on their return to the UK, coupled with growing question marks about travel to other European destinations, highlights the precarious and uncertain environment that the travel sector is currently grappling with.

Now more than ever, leaders in the travel sector need both resilience and clear-headed thinking. But it’s not always easy to take a strategic, longer term approach whilst at the same time fire-fighting yet another crisis.

Top 10 factors your staff should be trained in to keep customers & colleagues safe beyond Covid-19

As the government announces face masks are to become mandatory in shops across England we are further reminded of the importance of everyone’s role in minimising risk to help keep each other safe.  So what are the key aspects your staff should be trained in for you to be confident they’re empowered to keep customers and colleagues protected?

Staff development is key to a successful return

In recent weeks I have had a number of conversations with travel firms who sit on our Travel Skills & Quality Board regarding staff training and development. Their feedback offers a valuable insight into how training has been used constructively in this period, the issues they have had to address as well as the skills required to help businesses thrive in a post-Covid landscape.

What hospitality and tourism are doing to be ready to open their doors with confidence

As the hospitality sector gets ready to re-open on 4 July, it has been encouraging to see that employers are recognising a skills-led approach is key to their efforts to restore consumer confidence and ensure that staff are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

Displaying your commitment to reassuring consumers beyond Covid-19

As more businesses begin to reopen their doors we see encouraging queues of shoppers keen to return to the high street yet, unsurprisingly, figures show numbers are nearly half what they were this time last year. Understandably, consumers are wary and are taking baby steps back out into the tangible world -  and they want reassurances staff are trained in new “pandemic” measures.

The importance of being ready

Over the past month, after numerous conversations with HRDs and senior L&D professionals, the consensus is that investing in staff to prepare for the upturn is absolutely essential. 

Clearly, the changes we are going to face require preparation and planning, as companies will need to re-train staff and put in place the new health and safety procedures at the same time as getting their businesses up and running again. 

Hospitality and tourism critical to Covid-19 recovery

Tourism has always been a force for good by enabling cultures to come together. It also contributes significantly to job creation and directly and indirectly to economic growth.

So the impact of COVID-19 in totally disrupting the sector means that its rebuild will be essential. The re-set button must be ready to press when it is safe to do so. Plans must be ready to turn strategies into action. But a critical question must also be addressed: what would you do differently for the tourism industry to not just survive, but to prosper long term?