Looking for staff with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn? Hospo Start helps people take their first steps into hospitality—and connects employers with graduates ready to get started.
The Restaurant Association is committed to assisting our members who are challenged to find people with the right skill set to enter our industry. Delivered by the Restaurant Association in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, Hospo Start is a free, four-week training programme for eligible job seekers, with an overall goal of employment upon completion.
Through practical, hands-on learning, participants build basic hospitality skills, confidence and an understanding of what it takes to work in our industry. Our goal is to help them move into employment and give businesses a stronger foundation for training new team members.
We currently run training in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, including Tauranga/Mount Maunganui, Taupō and Rotorua.
Looking for your next team member?
Through Hospo Start we are working on a long term solution to the industry’s skill shortages and talent pipeline. The training provided by the Restaurant Association has been created in consultation with the hospitality industry. Participants gain valuable insight into a career in hospitality and key skills for entering employment and further education in our industry. We designed this course to reflect the key skill set required for job seekers – it is practical and hands on learning.
What Hospo Start participants learn
The four-week programme covers:
- An introduction to hospitality and career opportunities
- Customer service
- Food safety
- Barista skills
- Food preparation
- Beverage service
- Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) and host responsibility
- Hospitality first aid certification
How we support employers
We work with you to understand your recruitment needs and connect you with suitable candidates. Our support includes:
- Candidate matching and recruitment assistance
- Graduates with basic hospitality skills and an understanding of workplace expectations
- Regular contact and ongoing support
- Pastoral care and mentoring during the first three months of a graduate’s employment
Our learners graduate the programme having learned and experienced a variety of roles in the food and beverage and kitchen sectors. However our main focus of the programme is to graduate students who have the right attitude about working and the drive to learn, as well as basic hospitality skills. Upon completion we actively help to recruit the graduates into employment and our programme will continue in the form of pastoral care and mentorship in the first 3 months of their employment.
An employer’s experience
“We all know how important it is to build and retain a strong team. When you, as a manager or employer, take a Hospo Start candidate on board and show them that you are committed to providing them with all the skills, tools and training they will need to succeed, they will, in turn, be committed to you. I have employed many young Hospo Start candidates who have been embraced by the Soul team and are now long term members of the team.
We all had to start somewhere which is the work ethic I drive into my team and they embrace the importance of training and supporting the Hospo Start programme. We need to give young people the same opportunities that were given to us.”
SOUL BAR & BISTRO, AUCKLAND
Connect with a Hospo Start graduate
Tell us about your business and the roles you’re looking to fill. Our team can discuss available candidates and upcoming graduates in your area.
We currently have candidates right now looking for roles in Auckland.
Call 0800 737 827 or email [email protected].
Ready to start your career in hospitality?
If you enjoy working with people and are keen to learn practical skills, Hospo Start could be your next step.
Our free, four-week programme helps eligible job seekers prepare for work—or return to work—in hospitality. You’ll gain hands-on experience, explore different roles and build skills you can take into your first hospitality job or further training.
We also help graduates connect with employers and provide support and mentoring during their first three months of employment.
Training is currently available in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, including Tauranga/Mount Maunganui, Taupō and Rotorua.
Find out about joining. Call us today on 0800 737 827 to discuss or email [email protected]
Thank you to our Hospo Start supporters
Our supporters help us give participants a strong start and build the future hospitality workforce.
HospoStart is delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development
