Training Catering and Waiting Staff

When you own a catering business it is imperative that all your staff know what they are expected to do when working for you, their work hours, their duties and their possible promotion prospects. Staff training will give them the opportunity to learn about your catering business and what is expected of them while in your employment.

Contract

When someone is employed by your catering business, whether in a full or part time position they must be given a contract. This contract will show their work hours, pay scale and job description. The contract may also indicate that there is to be on the job staff training and that the employees is expected to attend the training sessions.

Casual Staff

Staff that are employed on a casual basis through an agency need to know what is expected of them. Give the agency an outline of the staff member’s duties so that they know they are able to take on the job given to them. You cannot have inexperienced staff arriving for an outside function and being a liability to your catering business because they are inexperienced. It is also the responsibility of the agency to provide you with experienced staff. Some agencies will train staff on their books.

Before A Function

Always allow time before a function for onsite staff training. Waiting staff not only need to know their duties for the event but a little extra staff training in table layout and working with the public will benefit the staff members and also your business.Kitchen staff need to know their duties for the event and ongoing food preparation training can be done before the catering event for junior members of the staff.

First Day Training

When employing new staff time should be spent showing them where they will work ad explaining your business. Staff members should know about the company and their part in it. As owner of the catering business you will be too busy to carry out this task yourself. Appoint a mentor for each member of new staff who will be able to show them the ropes and make the first days in your business an easy as possible. The mentor will also be able to provide basic staff training.

Healthy And Safety

Health and safety is of paramount importance in any business but more so in a catering business where kitchen staff are working in a hazardous area. Appoint a staff member as your health and safety officer. Apart from ensuring the work place is a safe environment this person will also undertake the staff training for the entire work force in your company.

Food Hygiene

Your staff are working with food and should be trained how to keep themselves and their work place a clean and hygienic place. Staff training can be done in-house or as a day course as many training establishments provide health and hygiene education. Another option is to train your staff in-house and use an online company for the formal part of the staff training and for staff to sit the formal certificate in food hygiene.

Display

Display your staff’s certificates in a prominent place where clients can see that your company encourages staff training and good practice in the work place.