CoE Update | January 2024

Happy New Year, we hope that you had some quality time with family and friends over the Christmas break and that you are in great spirits as we begin a brand new year filled with possibilities, growth, and exciting opportunities.

We are excited about the upcoming programs to be delivered in the final two months of the Centre of Excellence project for tourism and hospitality operators and their teams to access quality training and professional development programs scheduled across the three regions.

Each of these programs have been designed in response to feedback received from industry as key areas of skills development. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to develop skills and grow your knowledge to build capacity in your business.

We wish you a year filled with success, outstanding achievements, exciting challenges and opportunities and memorable moments. Thank you for supporting the Centre of Excellence, here’s to a fantastic 2024!

What’s Coming Up in February 2024

Leveraging Technology Workshops

The Centre of Excellence is delivering a series of workshops on how tourism and hospitality operators can leverage technology to streamline their businesses.

The workshop will include the following topics:

• Introduction to the Current Landscape: a brief overview of the challenges and opportunities faced by tourism and hospitality operators. 
• The Power of Technology in Tourism: exploring how technology can be a game-changer for small and medium tourism businesses, with a focus on practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Tech Solutions for Streamlining Operations: detailed insights into AI that can help streamline business operations, manage resources more effectively, and enhance efficiency.
• Enhancing Customer Experience through Technology: strategies to improve customer engagement and satisfaction using AI looking at social media marketing, email marketing and online booking platforms.
• Real-World Success Stories: sharing case studies or examples of local or similar businesses that have successfully integrated technology to overcome challenges and grow.
• Interactive Session: an opportunity for attendees to discuss their specific challenges and explore tailored technological solutions.

Workshops will take place on the following dates:

• Merimbula at Club Sapphire on Mon 19th February 2024, 9-11am
• Narooma at Club Narooma on Tues 20th February 2024, 9-11am
• Ulladulla at Ulladulla Civic Centre on Wed 21st February 2024, 9-11am
• Nowra at Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre on Thurs 22nd February 2024, 9-11am

What’s Coming Up in March 2024

Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level Two Course

The Centre of Excellence is offering a third Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level Two course in the Shoalhaven that is open to those involved in the service or sale of wine in the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley.

• Internationally Recognised Wine Education: The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is an internationally recognised course aimed to deliver product knowledge and skills to prepare a person for employment in wine hospitality or retail. 
• Three-Day Intensive Learning Experience: This is a highly regarded training opportunity that requires you to commit to three days of face-to-face learning, undertake some prior reading and complete an exam on the final day of the course.
•  Sign Up Now: Places on this course are limited. Please complete the form here to apply.

If you are from outside the regions and wish to attend the WSET Level 2 please contact Sam Tooley ([email protected]) for details.

To find out information about the course, download the course flyer. 

Managing Seasonality Workshops

Seasonal demand. It’s one of the greatest challenges for any business, particularly for tourism and hospitality operators. Both feasts and famines have their issues. Either your business can’t keep up with demand, or there’s not enough work to pay the bills and keep your staff employed.

• Strategic Business Solutions Workshops: The Centre of Excellence is conducting a series of five workshops, presented by Catherine Shields and Kate Mather, to address the practicalities of managing the peaks and troughs.
• Practical Tips and Case Studies: The content will include advice and strategies that can be applied to your business and will feature case studies showcasing how simple and inexpensive changes to your business to reduce the effect of seasonality.

Workshop dates and venues:

• Merimbula | Club Sapphire
  • Monday 18th March 2024, 9am-12:30pm
• Narooma | Club Narooma
  • Tuesday 19th March 2024, 9am-12:30pm
• Batemans Bay | Batemans Bay Pavilions
  • Wednesday 20th March 2024, 9am-12:30pm
• Ulladulla | Ulladulla Civic Centre
  • Thursday 21st March 2024, 9am-12:30pm
• Nowra | Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
  • Friday 22nd March 2024, 9am-12:30pm

** Click on the individual links to register **

For more information, download the workshop flyer. 

Other Skills Training and Education

TAFE NSW Hospitality Courses

Apprenticeship Cookery Classes will be commencing in the week beginning 5 February 2024. Contact your local apprenticeship support network if you have apprentices that you wish to get signed up.
 
The following course offerings are available at TAFE locations below. Remember that having trained staff will encourage staff loyalty and commitment in a time when finding and keeping staff is at a premium.
 
Click on the links below for more information and enrolment opportunities.
 
TAFE NSW – Nowra

• Certificate III Hospitality
• Certificate III Cookery 
• Certificate IV Hospitality (Supervision) 

TAFE NSW – Ulladulla

• Certificate II Hospitality 
• Certificate II Cookery (Non-apprenticeship) 

TAFE NSW – Moruya

• Certificate III Cookery (Non-apprenticeship) 
• Certificate III Hospitality 
• Certificate II Hospitality 

Perhaps you have existing staff who are working and have the majority of the skills?
To get existing skills recognised in Hospitality consider the below course offerings:

• Certificate II Hospitality Flexible 
• Certificate IV Hospitality (Supervision Flexible) 

 For more information on these courses contact your local TAFE NSW College.

. . .

NSW First Program

Destination NSW delivers the NSW First Program to assist tourism businesses across the state to develop, promote and sell their tourism products.

It includes face to face workshops and online webcasts that offer ‘how-to’ insights on a range of topics for the tourism industry, with events regularly added to the calendar.

Find out more and view on demand webcasts on the Destination NSW website.

For assistance with the NSW First Program and to discuss your business’ needs, please contact the Industry Development Manager at your Destination Network:

Looking for support in running your business? Find and book a Business Connect webinar or event from business experts. Develop your business skills and help your business achieve its potential. Visit the Business Connect website for further details.