HOSPITALITY SPECIFIC COVID ADVICE AND RISK ASSESSMENT PLUS PREPARING TO REOPEN TRAINING
26 May 2020
HOSPITALITY ULSTER IN DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY SPECIFIC HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES AS PUSH FOR OPENING DATE INCREASES
Hospitality Ulster will step up its push for a reopening date based on safety, not product type, as we prepare COVID-19 secure risk assessment and guidance plus extensive online staff training on our HU Academy training platform (as outlined below).
We will be in a position to demonstrate how we can operate safely.
Many hospitality businesses in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland have dates for reopening, and we are now at a competitive disadvantage.
Not to mention the likely withdrawal of financial support packages from the UK Government (like CJRS or "furloughing") if we remain closed beyond the GB dates.
We do not want to reopen until it is safe, but the Northern Ireland Executive must now look at when we can reopen based on our safety mitigations- bringing the hospitality industry forward into an earlier stage of its phased reopening plan.
Leaving us in phase five, with the return of full-service public transport, suggests that we cannot introduce safety measures, which is simply untrue.
It is also key that government is transparent about what level of ‘R’ number is required before hospitality can reopen and why we are using a 2 metre distance, when WHO states 1 metre.
If there is a sound scientific reason for this we will understand, but operating under 1 metre social distancing would make many hospitality businesses viable and save thousands of jobs.
The NI Executive has worked hard to support our industry and the people that work in it.
We genuinely appreciate all they have done and we also understand the thinking behind the 'no dates' approach.
But our supply chain and our businesses need a date and everyone that works in our industry needs hope!
COVID-19 SECURE ADVICE AND RISK ASSESSMENT FOR HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES
Working in partnership with our sister organisation UK Hospitality (UKH) and other industry partners, we are developing extensive advice and risk assessment for operating under COVID-19.
Whilst the current draft document is available to download below, please note that this is still a working document with content to be added before it is presented to Government for input / feedback.
Whilst it can be used for an initial risk assessment, we would strongly advise against making any purchases of equipment, or physical changes to your premises at this point.
We will issue the final document ASAP.
To download document CLICK HERE
COVID-19 PREPARING TO REOPEN TRAINING
In preparation for eventual reopening of the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland, the HU Academy- Hospitality Ulster's state of the art online training platform- is gearing up to provide industry specific reopening training courses in addition to the 40+ modules already available to HU Members at no additional cost*.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for our hospitality industry, and a difficult time for many of its operators.
Our priority is to support you as best we can to start planning for the phase of reopening.
With this in mind, we have developed six online training modules to help your business, managers and staff feel confident and informed.
NEW modules at a glance (available from 3rd June 2020):
- PREPARING TO REOPEN
- STAFF PROTECTION
- CLEANING AND HYGIENE
- SOCIAL DISTANCING
- CUSTOMER SERVICE
- TAKEAWAYS AND DELIVERIES
To read about the new modules in full CLICK HERE
To find out more about HU Academy, including how to sign up, CLICK HERE
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* Level 1- No additional cost: HU Members with less than 100 staff can access the extensive range of courses and an easy to use online management suite at no additional cost. A managed service is also available, if required.
Level 2- Exclusive 20% discount: HU Members with more than 100 staff can access the extensive range of courses, as well as an easy to use online management suite, plus an enhanced range of bespoke features, additional management tools, integration with existing management systems and the ability to create your own content. An all-encompassing onboarding, learning and development, communication and engagement tool, backed by individual support from the Flow management team with an exclusive 20% discount on the normal licence fee.