Hospitality businesses committed to improving their practices and increasing their impact now have a new certification programme.
HospoCred will reward businesses that demonstrate they meet and exceed recognised benchmark standards of employment, training and business management, telling Government, other businesses, employees and your diners what it means to be a responsible and transparent hospitality business.
HospoCred has been developed by the Restaurant Association as part of its hospitality roadmap – a strategic pathway to create long term industry improvements.
Businesses can apply to become an accredited member enabling them to join a community of other businesses dedicated to the same vision and goal.
To achieve HospoCred accreditation a business needs to undergo an application process and be assessed to meet high standards in five different areas:
- Employment Processes
- Workforce Development
- Policy / Business
- Financial Management
- Training / Professional Development
As part of the process the Restaurant Association will complete interviews with the owner of the business and some of their employees to verify the information submitted.
To achieve accreditation criteria the business will have displayed how their employment practices meet and exceed standards.
The criteria will also assess business compliance, as well as the workplace policies and procedures in practice that support employment relationships and provide guidance for the business. Accredited businesses will have policies and procedures that promote an efficient, productive and harmonious workplace culture.
Once a business is accredited, they’ll hold that accreditation for two years. If at any time it’s been identified that a business’s HospoCred accreditation needs review, the Restaurant Association will work with the business to help implement any changes, if needed.
“There are so many hospitality businesses out there that are going above and beyond when it comes to running their business responsibly and those businesses deserve to be recognised,” says Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois.
“Not only does it send a signal to Government, employees and diners that this is a business that is meeting and many cases exceeding its requirements but it also acts as a benchmark for other businesses to work towards,”
“In this current climate we are seeing more businesses thinking about what they can do to attract and retain staff. Whilst salaries have gone up by over eleven per cent in the past year, employees are also looking to work in businesses that they feel reflect their values and offer them a safe and enjoyable place to work whilst providing opportunity for professional development. This accreditation will help signal to those looking for employment that this is a workplace that will help meet their aspirations.”
The Restaurant Association 2022 Workplace Insights Report showed that employers are working hard to develop their employees’ skills in different ways, with 86% using in-house training, 45% utilising external professional development / training and 63% offering mentoring / coaching.
Most employers (78%) are providing free meals and almost a third are providing bonuses.
New applicant Margie Holmes, owner of Little Savanna in Palmerston North says: “We are continuously looking at ways we can improve our business to provide a great workplace for our team and better experience to our diners.
“Whether it be through staff training, pathway opportunities, improving our systems or developing our policies, the comprehensive guidance provided by HospoCred will help us to ensure we are running a sound business.
“Becoming a HospoCred accredited business will provide us with sound practices for both the business and our staff and has the potential to enhance our professionalism, increase our operational efficiencies, reduce costs and ultimately lead to a better service for our guests.”
For more information visit https://www.restaurantnz.co.nz/hospocred/ and www.restaurantnz.co.nz/consumer-guide-to-hospocred.
