Waiter/Server Retraining Programme

Yesterday [Nov.17] Minister Patrice Minors announced that the Ministry in partnership with the Bermuda Hotel Association and the Restaurant Division of the Chamber of Commerce has launched the “Waiter/Server Retraining Programme”.

Minister Minors said, “The estimated number of substantive waiter/server work permits approved on an annual basis is in the region of 400 and this number can grow to as many as 600 waiter/server work permits during the height of the summer season with the issuance of seasonal work permits to hotels, which are valid for periods between March and November.”

“The waiter/server programme, open to all persons seeking to reinvent themselves and pursue a career as a waiter or server is one that will require four weeks of course work in technical and soft-skills areas and prepares students for the Dining Room Associate designation from the Federation of Dining Room Professionals.”

No experience is required and the training programme is being offered at no cost to the trainee. This week, several Bermudians took part in an orientation session for the Waiter/Server Retraining Programme. The Acting Director of Labour and Training, George Outerbridge is pictured below facilitating the course.

Minister Minors said, “Our goal is to reduce the number of waiter/server work permits by one hundred in the first phase of this programme.

“This retraining programme opened for application at the 2012 Hospitality Job Fair, giving job fair participants the first opportunity to make application for entry into the programme.

“However today, I am pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted from the general public for this Waiter/Server Re-Training Programme via the Department of Labour and Training.

“This programme is designed for those with minimum dining room experience; it covers basic food, wine and beverage service. The standard of performance for the techniques of service presented, as a part of this program, is based on the International Business & Gourmet Standards of Hospitality (IBGS).

“The beverage service standards portion of this course, which is also included in the IBGS Standards, has received The International Sommelier Guild (ISG) Seal of Approval.”

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to provide an update on the recent 2012 Hospitality Job Fair and to share new information with respect to an exciting programme designed to retrain Bermudians to prepare them to become participants in this industry.

Mr. Speaker, you will know that as a direct result of the current economic downturn, many people who want to work are challenged to find employment.

As a responsible government we have devised many programmes to expose unemployed persons to viable employment opportunities. To this end we are working with employers more closely because it is in everyone’s best interest to employ more Bermudians.

Our collective role in employing Bermudians is critical to the sustainability of the country.

It is my belief, Mr. Speaker, that we, as the government, are more important as a ‘life line’ than we have ever been. There is a need to educate and help people adapt to the new realities of the Bermuda economy and the employment opportunities that are available.

One of our roles, at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, is to assist job-seeking individuals to make the transition to the new economic circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, job fairs have proven an effective method of building awareness about the availability of jobs in various sectors and bringing together those seeking employees and those seeking career opportunities.

The 2012 Hospitality Job Fair, the second of its kind under the direction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, was held on November 1st, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess in partnership with the Bermuda Hotel Association.

Mr. Speaker, more than 600 jobs, spread over fourteen hotel properties in all categories – entry level, skilled level and managerial level, were available for application by those seeking employment in this sector.

Of the 600 jobs, three hundred and ninety seven are currently held by work permit holders whose work permits will reach term prior to the start of the season and two hundred and sixty eight posts are vacant wherein the hotels are seeking to fill these posts prior to the beginning of the 2012 season.

All jobs posted are considered available posts and may be filled by a suitably qualified Bermudian applicant.

Mr. Speaker, our records show that a total of 684 persons officially registered at the job fair on November 1, 2011. Of that total, 479 or 70% of registrants indicated they are currently unemployed. A further 205 indicated that they were working however, some were either working part time or expected to maintain employment only until the end of 2011.

Mr. Speaker, “post” job fair we are now working with our partners via the Bermuda Hotel Association to ensure proper consideration of all applicants.

Further Mr. Speaker, such is our commitment to ensure that all barriers are removed and that the recruitment process is expedited, that the Ministry of Finance has agreed to waive the $100 security vetting fee for the fourteen participating properties for all job fair related posts requiring security vetting by the Police.

Also, an expedited process has been established between the Bermuda Police Service and the Bermuda Hotel Association to ensure that recruitment is not delayed with respect the filling of the available posts.

As you can see Mr. Speaker, our immediate priority is securing employment for displaced Bermudians as quickly as possible.

But Mr. Speaker, our efforts are not limited to job fairs.

Today, I am pleased to officially announce that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in partnership with the Bermuda Hotel Association and the Restaurant Division of the Chamber of Commerce has launched a “Waiter/Server Retraining Programme”.

Mr. Speaker, the estimated number of substantive waiter/server work permits approved on an annual basis is in the region of 400 and this number can grow to as many as 600 waiter/server work permits during the height of the summer season with the issuance of seasonal work permits to hotels, which are valid for periods between March and November.

The waiter/server programme, open to all persons seeking to reinvent themselves and pursue a career as a waiter or server is one that will require four weeks of course work in technical and soft-skills areas and prepares students for the Dining Room Associate designation from the Federation of Dining Room Professionals.

Mr. Speaker, no experience is required and the training programme is being offered at no cost to the trainee.

The Bermuda Hotel Association and the Chamber of Commerce have developed programme acceptance criteria and will vet the applications to ensure that the applicants accepted into the programme possess all the necessary qualities that will enable successful recruitment by their members upon successful completion of the programme.

Our goal is to reduce the number of waiter/server work permits by one hundred in the first phase of this programme.

Mr. Speaker, this retraining programme opened for application at the 2012 Hospitality Job Fair, giving job fair participants the first opportunity to make application for entry into the programme.

However today, I am pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted from the general public for this Waiter/Server Re-Training Programme via the Department of Labour and Training.

This programme is designed for those with minimum dining room experience; it covers basic food, wine and beverage service. The standard of performance for the techniques of service presented, as a part of this program, is based on the International Business & Gourmet Standards of Hospitality (IBGS).

The beverage service standards portion of this course, which is also included in the IBGS Standards, has received The International Sommelier Guild (ISG) Seal of Approval.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to be working in partnership with industry to deliver a retraining programme that carries the promise of employment.

I encourage anyone who is seeking employment to register today for the opportunity to acquire new skills; re-inventing themselves to take advantage of jobs that are currently available.

And, finally Mr. Speaker, please allow me to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to all industry partners, and in particular, the Bermuda Hotel Association who continues to work with us on these important employment generating initiatives.

I look forward to positive employment results on behalf of all unemployed Bermudians seeking employment opportunities.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

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