West Wales Hospitality Panel Steering Group Meeting

Halfway Inn – Nantgaredig, 15th December 2004

Attendees – Chris Osborne, Diana James, Gary Davies, Lynne Jones, Barbara Priest, Phil Drakeford, Tony McGetrik Lisa Johnston, Lowri Edwards, Michelle Evans

1) Welcome and Apologies – CO welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were given by Tim Giles, Geoff Haden, Geraint Bowen.

2) Minutes from the previous Meeting – agreed as an accurate account of the meeting.

3) TTFW Update – DJ informed that since September Anna Chapman and Karen Long have left TTFW. Karen is now working for People 1st, who were formally launched on 2nd December 2004 in London. There was thought of them having 1 or 2 launches in Wales. However, DJ suggested to them it would be better to introduce themselves on the back of other events. Karen is located at the TTFW office in Cardiff Bay and Anna is the Manager of YHA. TTFW have appointed a National Project Manager Lee Elwell who started 3 weeks ago.

4) Gallu Update – Progress – LJ informed that Gallu have been very busy and have a good response from both the trade and training providers. Since September, there has been a 6 week intensive session of carrying out TNA’s and over 96 were completed in SW Wales. Gallu have done a mid term review and have found that the top three training needs are 1) ICT, 2) Legislation, 3) Customer Service. Currently Gallu are concentrating on ICT seminars for January. To date 6 courses have been run, 2 staff retention courses, 3 presentation courses and 1 silver service course.

PD asked if when the courses come on-stream students from colleges could attend/observe at courses to see what training needs there are in the industry and also the training may be of use to them and also the lecturers, LJ agreed to this.

GD informed that he had been chasing the Sector Skills Council to get on update from them on where they are at so far with the TNA.

DJ informed that Claire Haven-Tang would be giving her report early January.

CO asked if the TNA was just SW Wales. DJ informed that it is being carried out thought out the whole of Wales.

Course Costs – LJ said that Gallu didn’t want to give free courses otherwise there would be no commitment from the trade to attend. A formula has been worked out for this, however as Gallu can’t charge for the courses as it is Objective 1 funded, the charge is made by the Tourist Association’s and monies generated in put in a separate account by the TA’s and is to be used for further HRD in the region.

GD said he was keen to see it as a member benefit for the TA’s, with members getting a 50% reduction and therefore hopefully encouraging people to join their local trade association

Quiz Night – Lisa Johnston informed that invites had been sent out for the quiz in March.

Buddy Days – LJ informed that she was working with Springboard on this and that the Leader from NPT was going to the Castle Hotel and the Principle from NPT College was going to the Aberavon Beach. The Principle from Coleg Sir Gar had also agreed to this. Michelle and Lowri are working on this in their areas. GD reminded Lisa that the RTP have press facilities Gallu can use for the Buddy Day.
BP informed of a Jobs Fayre that was taking place in February.

Concerns were expressed over the lack of creditability Job Centres tend to have with the trade. CO felt that they had gone quite High-tech with their new systems; however the customers are not able to cope with this quite yet.

GD asked if there was a specific website for advertising tourism vacancies in Wales. It was felt that it would be great if there was a website where members of the TA’s could send their vacancies to.

BP informed that some money was given to Springboard to do this a couple of years ago, but nothing materialised.

DJ suggested that we look at this with people first who are keen to develop links and work in the regions.

5) Forum Meeting 9th February – venue Picton Castle in Pembrokeshire on 9th February at 13.00. Claire Haven-Tang will deliver the TNA results for SW Wales as well as for Wales as a whole. CO asked if it could be SW Wales specific and just mention some of the other outcomes for Wales as a whole.

LJ is currently working with PD on getting students involved in the event. PD informed that he had been in touch with Milford Haven School who are sending 6 students to the meeting. They

see it as an excellent opportunity to interview the trade and people who work in the industry. They would like to conduct 6 interviews (1 each, lasting 10-15 minutes) and then feed back the results at the end. PD asked if the teacher could participate in the rest of the event.

GD suggested putting the event in Trade Talk. LJ informed that invitations would also be sent out.

LJ wanted to clarify what the Best practice Exemplars were to do. CO suggested getting Tracey Kindred from the Angel Inn in Llandeilo to present there. DJ suggested that Tracey could repeat her assessment presentation.

Timetable for the day –
14.00 Claire Haven-Tang
14.20 Diana James & Karen Long
14.30 Tracy Kindred
14.45 Milford School
15.00 Q&A / Tea & Coffee

Room to be set out restaurant style with the presenters on the top table.

LJ expressed concern that colleges are not on the mailing lists of the TA’s and that they often do not know about Open Days and other events. CO asked if each facilitator could speak to the TA’s about putting colleges on their mailing lists.

6) Training Provision in SW Wales
LE gave a presentation on the various training providers that Gallu had met with across the region and how flexible they have been to the project. LE felt that there were sufficient training providers out there to meet the needs of the trade and they were very keen to work with Gallu. So far they have been very flexible and have been able to deliver anything Gallu have asked for and also at any time.

CO asked if Gallu had faced any problems with other organisations. BP informed that she knew of the issues with Planed and the ICT Seminar and TNA’s. LE informed that Planed were still continuing with this as they felt that their TNA is slightly different to the one that Gallu did. LJ informed that Gallu have emailed Planed with regard to working together for the benefit of the trade and hoped that this could be done in the future.

7) WTB Roadshow – LJ informed that this is taking place on February 3rd at The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea. Gallu will be having a stand there as well as doing one of the workshop sessions. Gallu’s workshop session will be carried out by Marianne Pettifor of Frogmore Consulting and the theme will be ‘Making a Positive Impression’.

8) AOB – GD informed that the SWWTP have had their review with the WTB and that they hope to have their budget through for next year.

9) Date and Time of Next Meeting – 9th February, Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire.