Aims & Activities



The Aim of the Tourism Skills Network West of England:


To increase the competitiveness of the West of England's tourism industry by increasing the skill levels of those employed in it and by attracting better skilled entrants to careers in tourism, leisure, hospitality and allied industries. The Tourism Skills Network concentrates on a partnership approach involving employers, colleges, training providers and local agencies, to identify and address the challenges facing the local tourism and hospitality industry.

We will achieve this by:


  • Supporting tourism organisations with the recruitment and retention of their employees.
  • Providing careers advice and support to individuals considering a career in the tourism industry.
  • Raising the profile of the tourism industry and creating awareness of the range of exciting career opportunities at all levels.
  • Developing closer links between education, training providers and industry to improve the quality of study, work experience and career opportunities for students.
  • Piloting innovative measures designed to improve the skills of the industry's workforce and to make tourism a 'first choice' career for young people.
  • Identifying and implementing measures that counter social exclusion and enable people so affected to enter mainstream employment.
  • Designing a programme of initiatives and activities that will increase the contribution tourism makes to economic regeneration.

Activities


We coordinate a variety of activities designed to support local tourism businesses with the recruitment, retention, training and development of existing and potential staff.

Research


Workforce Development Plan
The Tourism Skills Network South West carried out a survey to assess the tourism industry’s training needs, its links with education, and skills development priorities (at regional and county level). The Tourism Skills Network West of England have subsequently arranged a range of training courses in response to the training needs identified. The results have been published as a Workforce Development Plan

Training Needs Surveys
The Tourism Skills Network West of England conducts surveys of the training needs of sectors within the tourism industry to identify training required by specific groups. In 2005, local bars and restaurants were surveyed.

Careers Awareness
The Tourism Skills Network West of England arranges a wide range of activities to promote the tourism industry as a positive career choice.

Since 1999, careers advice and information has been given to over 5,000 individuals on jobs, careers, training and education opportunities within the industry.

Careers Resources
The Tourism Skills Network West of England produces and distributes careers resources and information. We have also trained a team of industry ambassadors to use the Tourism Skills Network’s Career Speaker Pack, a unique resource containing hands-on activities, quizzes, and curriculum based skills exercises.

Job Vacancy Advertising
The Tourism Skills Network West of England advertise job vacancies in the tourism leisure and hospitality industries on the website.Job Vacancies

Bristol Junior Chef
The Tourism Skills Network also organises Bristol Junior Chef, in partnership with the Bristol Hotels Association and City of Bristol College. The 6-day event offers 14 local students the opportunity to undertake a week of chef training, work experience and visits, to promote the range of exciting jobs available in the catering and hospitality industry. ,

Education


Foundation Degree in Tourism
The Tourism Skills Network West of England coordinated and chaired an employer focus group for a new Foundation Degree in tourism. The Tourism Skills Network West of England liased between the college and employers and represented the tourism industry on the validation panel.

Educational Resources
The Tourism Skills Network West of England recognises the importance of quality teaching resources and has developed the Tourism Tutor Toolkit. Developed in partnership with Connexions West of England and eight local businesses, it is relevant to a range of tourism-related courses and adds a local focus to existing curriculum material. Organisations including At Bristol, Bristol Zoo Gardens, hotels and restaurants in the city have provided information on their Customer Service, Marketing, and Human Resources operations along with information on career opportunities for young people in order to enable students to get more out of opportunities when studying tourism in Bristol.

Qualifications Directory
Each year the Tourism Skills Network West of England compiles a 'Qualifications Directory', which contains details of all Hospitality, Catering, Travel and Tourism qualifications available in in the West of England area.
Qualifications Directory,

Business Engagement


Business Training Courses and Events
The Tourism Skills Network West of England develops and co-ordinates a range of training courses and events, designed to be relevant and effective for tourism businesses. Courses include Welcome to Excellence Courses, IT, sales, marketing and management.Training and Events

Bristol Chefs' Forum
The Tourism Skills Network West of England administers the Bristol Chef Forum. Head Chefs and/or their representatives from hotels and restaurants across Bristol meet quarterly at this forum to network, share information and work together to support and promote careers in the local catering and hospitality industry. For further details please contact Emily Herringshaw on 0117 3125027

Work Experience


The Tourism Skills Network West of England recognises that work experience plays a crucial role in encouraging people to join the tourism industry and is committed to helping to improve the quality of local work experience placements for both employers, students and trainees. The Tourism Skills Network West of England has developed two key initiatives in partnership with local tourism employers, students, colleges and training providers:

The Tourism Skills Network is currently looking into the feasibility of a work experience programme to launch in 2007. For more information please contact the Tourism Skills Network West of England on 01275 370915.

Improving Standards and Representing the Industry
The Tourism Skills Network West of England strives to raise the status of the tourism profession and gain recognition for the economic importance of the industry at local and national levels.