1. Restaurant Marketing - 12 May

This course will provide delegates with an overview of how to use marketing techniques to improve restaurant sales and to encourage their customers to spend more. The course includes:

Blueprint for an effective marketing plan
Customer segmenting techniques that work for you and your business
Maximising the sales potential of your menu
Tips and techniques for engaging with your customers (including public relations, direct mail and advertising)
Taking the mystery out of e marketing and tips for better website optimisation.

The course runs on Monday 12 May from 9.30 - 13.00 at the Royal Oak Prestbury at a subsidised rate of £15 per delegate. Places are limited and are going fast! To book your place visit http://glos.tsnsw.org.uk/traininganddev

2. Chef Excellence Master Class - Managing People

Being a Head Chef is more than just cooking food - its about the people who are working with you. Whether its just you and a Commis Chef, or you and a team in the Kitchen, its all about working together and building a team that can produce great food.

Do you have people working for you? Would you like to get more out of them? Then come along to find out more about how to build a team, how to motivate and delegate to your staff, how to manage people issues and how to generally be a great manager! This masterclass is for Head Chefs or for people who are aspiring to be Head Chefs and who manage people in the Kitchen.

The course runs on Monday 9 June from 14.30 - 17.00 at Chargrove Business Centre, Shurdington at a subsidised rate of £10 per delegate. To book your place contact Kelly Gingell on 01242 864167 or email kelly.gingell@gloucestershire.gov.uk

3. Practical Training Certificate (Train the Trainer) - 16, 17 & 18 June

The Stonebow Practical Training Certificate programmes are widely acknowledged as the best in the UK retaining industry wide recognition (http://www.people1st.co.uk/welcome-to-stonebow). The Tourism Skills Network Gloucestershire is delighted to offer the course on a first come first served basis, to tourism, hospitality and retail businesses in Gloucestershire for just £75 per person. Participation in this programme is usually charged at £750 + VAT for 3 days.

Learn how to train and develop others by applying industry standards and techniques to your training programmes. The Practical Training Certificate teaches managers, supervisors and team leaders to deliver more effective on the job training.

The 3 day session runs on 16, 17 & 18 June at Hatherley Manor Hotel, Gloucester. For further information and booking please visit http://glos.tsnsw.org.uk/traininganddev

4. Gloucestershire Workforce Development Plan

The Tourism Skills Network Gloucestershire developed their Workforce Development Plan for the county in 2002, each year it is updated to ensure it still reflects the needs of the industry. The plan needs to be updated for 2008/09. The current priorities that we are working towards addressing in the county are
Customer service
Management & Leadership
Chef Skills
Quality Standards
Perception & Careers Promotion
Older workforce
Migrant workforce
The current workforce development plan can be found at http://glos.tsnsw.org.uk/businesssupport If you have any feedback or suggestions for how the plan could be improved please call Kelly Gingell on 01242 864167 or email kelly.gingell@gloucestershire.gov.uk. All comments should be returned by Friday 23 May.

5. Train to Gain

Helping Gloucestershire businesses get the training they need to succeed.
It can improve your competitiveness by making sure your employees have the right skills to do the best job. It is funded by the Learning & Skills Council and delivered through a partnership between Business Link and the local training provider network across the South West, and combines a number of practical and relevant 'training solutions'.
If you would like more information or would like to register your interest then please telephone 08456 047 047, email traintogain@businesslinksw.co.uk or visit www.traintogain.co.uk