In a major step forward, the Institute of Hospitality has made two important acquisitions: The Academy of Food & Wine Service and Hospitality & Leisure Manpower.
The Institute's chief executive Peter Ducker FIH (pictured) explained how these businesses will fit into the Institute’s strategic plans, 'For 30 years the Academy of Food & Wine Service has provided training programmes offering a pathway to management for those working in front-of-house service. It has run some important industry competitions and provided support to its members as the professional body for front-of-house food & beverage service.
'Given our increased focus on training and the development of our own online training using the Upskill People platform, this acquisition gives us a tremendous wealth of material which, once updated and re-modelled to sit on our platform, will be of tremendous value to the industry, both in the UK and overseas. I know that it will be particularly valued in developing markets.'
Hospitality and Leisure Manpower (HALM) is a national training, research and consulting group, founded and managed by David Battersby OBE FIH, a former president of the Institute of Hospitality and a co-founder of the Gold Service Scholarship. It has developed algorithms to benchmark productivity in hospitality.
In 2001, with the British Hospitality Association, Battersby launched the ‘Profit Through Productivity’ programme with backing from the Government and the key trade associations in the tourism, hospitality and leisure sector. 'Profit Through Productivity' provided regional workshops across the UK to help businesses increase their profits and efficiency.
Ducker added, 'Given the pressures of wage inflation and the concerns associated with recruiting and retaining talent, this acquisition will enable us to help members identify opportunities for greater efficiency within their businesses, and will also give us a service of value to the industry at large, worldwide.'
Institute chairman Stephen Kyjak-Lane FIH commented, “In 2018 the Institute celebrates its 80th anniversary. These strategic acquisitions, combined with advances the Institute is making on a number of fronts demonstrate clearly that we are as important and relevant to the industry today as ever. Over the coming months you will see these two organisations re-emerge, delivering valuable support to our great industry.'