The new scheme is designed to give businesses the skills and support they need to meet the demands of trading during Covid-19
Diageo invests £1m a year in the Learning for Life programme, which was previously focused on getting young unemployed people into jobs in hospitality. It is now a virtual training programme aimed at providing specialist support to on-trade businesses, helping develop and engage their teams, including those on furlough.
The Learning for Life Hospitality Elevator course will be delivered by Diageo’s training partner, Springboard. It also aims to help alleviate isolation by, ‘inviting team members to participate in virtual sessions, helping those on furlough feel connected to their team, gain new skills and develop new strategies for looking after themselves during these challenging times.’
The programme includes training in areas such as:
- Covid-19: personal safety, workplace best practice, customer comfort
- Customer service: new customer requirements and behaviours
- Staff wellbeing: top tips and techniques to look after mental health
- Product knowledge: table service recommending, perfect service, cocktail training
- Diageo brand ambassador sessions
- Licensing qualification (region specific)
‘The pandemic has had a massive impact on hospitality staff, causing huge anxiety and stress, with their mental and physical wellbeing affected,’ said Inga McVicar, national head of employability at Springboard.
‘The Hospitality Elevator programme offers some solution to this by providing training which helps employees feel more confident, improving their understanding of new guidance and ultimately leading them to deliver better service to customers.’
