Training

Business Support   

Training

Why train?

Training is linked to quality, productivity and growth for your business, and greater satisfaction and confidence for you and your staff.  It can make a real difference in raising levels of service, improving customer retention and getting the edge over your competitors.

Read and download the Toolkit's How To...Benefit from training guide

Find training events

Our training events listing  keeps you updated with key local training events - many of these are free. 

See the full list of training events coming soon. 

People 1st and the UK Skills Passport

The UK Skills Passport (UKSP) is a one-stop-shop for information on jobs, careers and training in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry.  The website helps students and individuals who are just starting out in the industry to source training, locate apprenticeships, and find jobs, and helps employers to fill their vacancies and find funded training.

People 1st is the sector skills council that oversees the UKSP.  Visit People 1st to read more about their strategic work that transforms skills and reforms qualifications within the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry sector.

People 1st has acquired the exclusive rights to deliver WorldHost - a world-class training programme developed to raise the standard and delivery of customer service in the UK.  The WorldHost customer service training programme will be offered to tens of thousands of employees and contractors' staff who will be working at the Olympic and Paralympic venues during London 2012.  Read more about WorldHost and its programmes

National Skills Academy for Hospitality

The National Skills Academy will shortly be merging with People 1st to add 'greater value' to the hospitality industry.

National Skills Academy courses are currently being offered in the North East by Darlington College Business First

Welcome to Excellence  

Welcome to Excellence is the most successful customer service training initiative in the UK.  Over 300,000 people have already taken part since the first training course in 1993. The training covers a range of topics including E-business, Welcome Host and Green Advantage, and all courses are frequently refreshed in-line with customer expectations.

Find out more about  Welcome to Excellence

Profit Through Access

A free online training course designed specifically for tourism businesses in the North East.  It helps attract a wider range of visitors that will ultimately improve profits for your business. The training also recognises the opportunities that being 'accessible' brings, and  identifies practical and low-cost ways to improve accessibility and enhance the visitor experience.

VisitEngland offer their own free online access statement tool too.

Apprenticeships

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is a government organisation that has responsibility for the delivery of apprenticeships in England.  They provide an impartial and responsive service to employers who would like to introduce apprentioces to their business, or utilise the programme to develop existing staff.  They also help those looking to start their careers, find an apprenticeship, and contribute towards the training and qualification costs. 

For more information call 08000 150 600 or visit the National Apprenticeships Service website

Making the most of your retail offer

Maximising the profits from your retail offer is becoming more important for attractions, tourist information centres and museums. The Toolkit offers a  'maximising your retail offer' guide - split into five sections that will help you to:

• look at ways in which the look and feel of your shop influences customers and how you can make them feel comfortable enough to buy
• consider the stock you might sell and how to encourage visitors to spend more
• get tips from local experts, plus examples from other successful retailers within visitor attractions

Read and download How To...maximise your retail offer