Wellbeing and Development Promise launched by Hospitality and Tourism Industry
27 June 2023
Wellbeing and Development Promise launched by Hospitality and Tourism Industry
Developed by the UK Hospitality & Tourism Skills Board, the ‘Wellbeing and Development Promise’ is a UK wide initiative for the hospitality and tourism industry, to promote the wellbeing and development of staff within both sectors.
Hospitality Ulster in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland and the Hospitality and Tourism Skills network (HATS) will deliver the rollout of the ‘Wellbeing and Development Promise’ in Northern Ireland with the aim of attracting and retaining talent in the sector, boosting training and development opportunities, and promoting staff wellbeing. The scheme replaces similar schemes previously delivered on a regional basis.
The Promise seeks to ensure that team members are well supported in the workplace and feel valued in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential and flourish as an employee in the sector.
Some of the commitments contained in the Wellbeing and Development Promise include a pledge to implement a diversity and inclusion policy, identify training and development opportunities for all staff, consider a wide range of pay and benefits and flexible working arrangements, minimise mental health challenges associated with the workplace, and enforce a policy of anti-harassment in the workplace.
Employers are encouraged to sign up to the Wellbeing and Development Promise. To find out more, visit: https://wellbeingpromise.co.uk
Speaking at the launch of the Wellbeing and Development Promise in Northern Ireland, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster, said:
“As an industry, we know how important it is to be responsible employers who foster positive working environments where people want to work, and where staff feel valued and supported. The Wellbeing and Development Promise is a comprehensive initiative which will guide employers on best practice. It will help to attract new talent, retain staff, and ultimately boost career opportunities within the industry”.
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive, UK Hospitality, added:
“It is wonderful to be here today to officially launch the Wellbeing and Development Promise here in Northern Ireland. Hospitality has always relied on the thousands of individuals who work in our pubs, restaurants, hotels, and cafés, and it is the people that work in our industry who make it the world class industry it is. This is why the holistic approach to the Promise is so important; individuals can feel that they are supported not just at work but in their wider life. I trust that the Wellbeing and Development Promise will contribute better workplaces and more well-rounded employees here in Northern Ireland”.
David Roberts, Director of Strategic Development, Tourism Northern Ireland, said:
“Tourism NI welcomes initiatives to encourage employers to adopt best practice in how they support members of their team. The Wellbeing and Development Promise seeks to ensure that team members are well supported in the workplace and feel valued in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential and flourish as an employee in the sector. It is free for employers to sign up and I would encourage them to do so, ensuring that visitors to Northern Ireland are provided with a giant welcome when they are here”.
Ciaran O’Neill, Chair of HATS Network and Managing Director of Bishops Gate Hotel, said:
“The HATS Network is delighted to partner in the launch of the Wellbeing and Development Promise to support our ambition to grow a future talent pipeline and an industry reputation as a place that people of all ages aspire to work in. Many hospitality and tourism businesses are already making fundamental changes to offer a different and better-quality job experience. It’s critical that employers commit to investing in their people by providing good quality training, work-life balance and wider support to ensure we can attract and retain the talent the sector needs to thrive.”