Scheme to attract and retain hospitality staff launches in Northern Ireland

A collaborative scheme has been launched to boost training and development opportunities for hospitality and tourism staff in Northern Ireland.

It forms part of the UK-wide Wellbeing and Development Promise that was developed and announced by the UK Hospitality & Tourism Skills Board in April.

The initiative will be rolled out in Northern Ireland by Hospitality Ulster in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland and the Hospitality and Tourism Skills network (HATS).

Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Northern Ireland, Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: “The Wellbeing and Development Promise is a comprehensive initiative which will guide employers on best practice. It will help to attract new talent, retain staff, and ultimately boost career opportunities within the industry”.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, added: “Hospitality has always relied on the thousands of individuals who work in our pubs, restaurants, hotels, and cafés, and it is the people that work in our industry who make it the world class industry it is. I trust that the Wellbeing and Development Promise will contribute better workplaces and more well-rounded employees here in Northern Ireland”.

Commitments include a pledge to introduce a diversity and inclusion policy; offer training opportunities for staff; and consolidate anti-harassment policy in the workplace.

Businesses can sign up to the scheme to show their support.

The first 32 businesses to have signed up to the scheme when it first launched in April include BM Caterers, BrewDog, British Beer and Pub Association and Parkdean Resorts.

It comes after the number of job vacancies in the hospitality sector hit 146,000 between November 2022 and January 2023, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Successful Fyr Restaurant Concept Comes To Solent Hotel And Spa

FYR Restaurant (pronounced fire) has been so well received and has enjoyed so much success at North Lakes Hotel and Spa in Penrith, that this new dining experience now makes its way down the country to Daniel Thwaites sister property, Solent Hotel and Spa in Fareham.

Now to be enjoyed at Solent Hotel and Spa, ideally positioned between Southampton and Portsmouth, FYR offers an open plan, theatre style grill kitchen on the outdoor terrace complete with nearby fire pit just perfect for year-round dining. Located on the terrace is an open fire grill where diners can watch the team of chefs transform regionally-sourced ingredients into tempting dishes in the heart of the restaurant, creating a culinary visual experience to savour. Offering up a selection of locally sourced grilled meats, seafood, British classics and tasty fine-dining dishes in an open-plan setting for both residents and non-hotel guests alike.

Following on from the success at North Lakes Hotel and Spa, Executive Head Chef Jon Marsden Jones at Solent

Hotel and Spa is delighted to now offer diners the chance to experience the theatre of dining by watching his brigade create their masterpieces at this new seafood and grill restaurant, made possible due to an investment of £200,000 from owners Daniel Thwaites.

Hero dishes include: Solent seafood platter, comprising dressed Cornish brown crab, Atlantic king prawns, pickled cockles, cured fish, oysters and steamed shellfish served on a bed of ice with saffron aioli, Solent Marie Rose sauce and shallot vinegar. The FYR surf and turf platter for two boasts 8oz sirloin and 7oz fillet steaks, Atlantic king tiger prawns and dressed Cornish brown crab served with Hampshire watercress, smoked tomatoes, skin on fries and Solent Marie rose sauce. In addition, a choice of steaks – sirloin, rib eye, fillet or the FYR signature steak, aged for a minimum of 28 days and cooked to the diners’ exact specifications – are served alongside a drinks menu expertly curated with the new seafood and grill menu in mind.