Training Courses

Training your staff can make a real difference in raising levels of service, improving customer retention and getting the edge over your competitors. 

The Advantages of training (PDF) article highlights some of the key reasons why training is important in the tourism industry.

Tourism Skills Network South West

The Tourism Skills Network South West works with employers to identify training needs and deliver programmes in partnership with training agencies to improve the skills base and capacity of the workforce, as well as promoting tourism as a career of first choice. Read More.

An innovative Tourism Business Excellence Programme 2010/11 starts in July 2010. To find out more about this programme, click here.

Welcome to Excellence

South West Tourism organise the ‘Welcome to Excellence' customer service programme in the South West and offer a range of open courses at local venues or in-house at your business. Alternatively courses can be customised to your particular needs or corporate programmes may be put together, whereby a member of your staff is trained to become your own in-house trainer.

As the summer months are the busiest time of year for most tourism businesses and demand is lower for training, we run fewer courses during this period.

At present there are no course dates set.
New dates will be released Autumn 2010.

To register your interest in a particular course, or to find out more about in-house training, please contact:

Helen Jones
(01392) 229 619
hjones@swtourism.org.uk

The Welcome to Excellence range of courses are continually updated and developed. Click on the course titles below to download a syllabus. 

Green Advantage Course
Green Advantage is designed to help participants to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of green issues and actions.

E-Business Course
The objective of the Welcome E-Business programme is to raise your awareness of what e-business is, and the things you can do in the areas of e-marketing and e-commerce to improve your own business.

• Lead, Motivate and Succeed Course
  Course Fee £90 + VAT per person. 
  A stimulating and inspiring course that will empower first-time managers and supervisors to get the most out of their team.
  
• Welcome Host Course
  Course Fee £80 + VAT per person.
  Improve communication skills, deal effectively with difficult situations, create a positive impression and exceed customer expectations.

• Welcome Host Plus Course
  Course Fee £85 + VAT per person.
  Develop your customer service and communication skills further to enable you to deliver world-class standards of service.
  
• Welcome Host Gold 
  The Welcome Host Gold one-day training course gives participants today's core customer service skills - reflecting the latest techniques and best practice. It is a highly flexible course, and can be tailored to include content and knowledge specific to destinations and businesses.
  Welcome Host Gold now has City & Guilds accrediation, learn more.
  
• Welcome All Course
  Course Fee £90 + VAT per person.
  Improve the service that you offer customers with disabilities and specific needs.
  
• Welcome International Course
  Course Fee £90 + VAT per person.
  Improve skills, abilities and awareness in order to greet and help visitors from overseas and to create a positive impression.
  
• Welcome Line Course
  Course Fee £90 + VAT per person.
  Learn to use the telephone effectively in order to communicate efficiently with customers, improve service and in doing so ensure more profitable business.
  
• Welcome Management Course
  Course Fee £100 + VAT per person.
  Develop the understanding, skills and competencies that you will need for effective management of your business. You will concentrate on developing a customer service strategy, specific to your business.
  
• Welcome to Cornwall
  A one-day course which mixes customer service training with destination knowledge and is designed to inspire people employed within tourist related businesses to share their passion for the county and give a genuine warmth of welcome to visitors.
  
• Welcome Walkers & Cyclists
  Identify the needs and expectations of different kinds of walkers and cyclists and capitalise on local opportunities for walking and cycling.
  

To find out more information, or to book a course, please contact:
Helen Jones
(01392) 229 619
hjones@swtourism.org.uk

To visit the Welcome to Excellence website click here.

Useful Links

Follow these links for more advice and information on training:

• Tourism Skills Network Help for employers in identifying training needs and delivering programmes in partnership with training agencies to improve the skills base and capacity of the workforce, as well as promoting tourism as a career of first choice.
• People First Skills Help for employers and employees in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.
• UK Skills Passport Advice for employers and individuals on qualifications and courses plus access to funding.
• Learn Direct Advice for employers on training your staff.
• The Institute of Hospitality The professional body for managers - and aspiring managers - working in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries.