Hospitality already leading the way with sector transformation
The Tourism Better Work Plan has recently been released and MBIE are currently seeking feedback from industry on the actions outlined in this workforce plan. From the Association’s viewpoint, the plan highlights just how much the industry is already doing when it comes to supporting the hospitality sector’s recovery from the pandemic.
The plan duplicates many points already outlined in the Association’s Future of Hospitality Roadmap released more than a year ago, with the initiatives like the Association’s HospoCred industry accreditation programme and #Hospolife recruitment campaign both finding near identical reference in the plan.
There are 8 action points outlined in the plan:
- Tourism and Hospitality Accord
- Promoting a purpose-driven, intergenerational mindset
- Enabling better work through innovation and technology
- Building cultural competency
- Embracing the peaks and troughs of tourism demand
- Fit for purpose education and training
- Better tools and resources for business owners and operators
- A public campaign to showcase better work in the industry
Naturally, we are very supportive of the goals that underpin the Better Work plan, as they mirror our own goals outlined in the Hospitality Roadmap. The Restaurant Association has worked hard with our members over the past two years to take a close look at our industry and create work programmes that will support our sector recovery. Our members are consistently seeking ways to promote best practice in our sector and the HospoCred programme (which takes the form of the ‘tourism and hospitality accord’ in the Better Work Plan) was established as our sector’s accreditation scheme, assessing business’ in five key areas of Employment, Workforce Development, Policy/Business, Financial Management and Training/Professional Development.
We are encouraged to see initiatives outlined in the Better Work Plan that look to develop and transform our industry as we being to operate at full capacity again. Clearly we have been on the same page with identifying many of the top actions.
We support an industry-led approach
Which is how HospoCred and our other initiatives are formulated. 200 Restaurant Association members have already signed up to the HospoCred programme, and we’re seeing fantastic results from our industry-led approach to ensuring employment best practice and long-term resilience in the hospitality sector. As an Association, we’ve also been working closely with the Ministry of Social Development to deliver programmes, such as Springboard and HospoStart, that support both employers and employees in our sector. We are invested in developing programmes that help our members and their businesses.
Sometimes the best thing Government can do is listen and we encourage business operators to put forward their views on the Plan and the initiatives already developed and in market.
The Association will be making a submission encouraging that the Plan incorporates work that has already been developed and has the endorsement of industry, rather than spending money to duplicate initiatives that are already developed. You can share your views by completing an online survey or providing a written submission. Go to www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/better-work-action-plan/ for details. Consultation closes on 14 September, 2022.
What happens next?
MBIE and the ITP Group will consider feedback and the final Action Plan is intended to be released before the end of 2022.