Pubco launches first food training workshop for bar staff
STAR Pubs & Bars has launched a series of free training workshops to help its tenants meet what it describes as a growing demand for quality food.
The aim of the one-day practical workshops is to address what the pubco has identified as a shortage of skilled kitchen staff within the industry.
Star Pubs & Bars said it is investing £24,000 in providing 12 workshops over the next six months, four of which will run in Scotland in October and November.
The workshops are aimed at staff who are being trained to work in the kitchen, as well as for licensees who wish to improve their own food skills; Star Pubs & Bars said up to 240 pubs across the UK will benefit from the training.
Four different workshops will be run by the company – meat and poultry, fish and shellfish, menu development and healthy eating and allergens.
The new workshops will build on a suite of food training that has been introduced over the last year as part of the company’s Star Food programme.
This includes extended food training for new lessees as part of their induction; independent chef consultancy at licensees’ pubs; and five-day residential foundation cookery skills courses for licensees who wish to extend their current food offer.
Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs & Bars managing director, said food has become a “massive income opportunity for pubs”.
“Customer expectations are higher than ever and the food has got to be good for licensees to succeed,” he said. “Trained kitchen staff are essential to deliver great food and with a crisis in the availability of qualified people we want to do all we can to make the necessary training available.”
