HR Corner House of talent by Isabella Lee International training partnership accentuates hotel's commitment to people development and social responsibility Lifelong learning is available through a variety of channels aside from formal institutions such as colleges or universities. Acting on its belief that the workplace can be one of those contexts, Langham Place Mongkok has become the first hotel in Hong Kong to achieve City & Guilds international accreditation as a vocational training centre. By joining hands with the UK-based organisation, the hotel has shown its commitment to social responsibility and the local community by creating new opportunities for employees to achieve international skills recognition and develop a successful career in the hospitality industry. As one of the world's largest and best-known vocational awarding bodies, City & Guilds will provide internationally benchmarked qualifications to be adopted by the hotel's internal training system for employee skills accreditation. Make a difference "Disregarding academic qualifications, we believe every one of our colleagues can shine, provided they are equipped with the necessary intellectual capital and quality," says Ivy Leung, director, intellectual capital and quality, Langham Place Mongkok. "The strategic partnership with City & Guilds is a long-term one. A number of catering and hospitality schemes will be phased in over a period of time. There is also the possibility that our spa training may earn City & Guilds accreditation." Langham Place Mongkok will initially manage City & Guilds' food and beverage and housekeeping vocational training components, adapted and customised for Asia. By passing the relevant practical and theoretical examinations, candidates will earn qualifications on a par with internationally recognised standards. During the second stage of the partnership, the hotel aims to expand the vocational training programme to include components of food preparation and culinary arts, as well as reception operations and services encompassing a broader range of development areas. "The hotel will carry all the costs of the accreditation process to ensure that our colleagues don't have to bear any financial burden. All staff members will have the opportunity to benefit from the programme," says Ms Leung. Further expansion The alliance comes at a time when the Langham Place brand is being developed and expanded into China. New Langham Place hotels are set to open in Beijing and Chuanchun over the next 12 months. Increasing the number of well-trained employees within the group is therefore crucial for the group. "City & Guilds is acutely aware of the history and reputation of Langham Hotels International, which established its flagship The Langham Hotel in London in 1865, some 13 years before the establishment of City & Guilds in 1878," notes Trevor Bond, head of international, City & Guilds. "We are also aware of Langham Place's ambitious expansion plans. As an international awarding body with 10 branch offices and three regional hubs around the world, of which Asia is one, we hope this initiative will also be expanded to deliver improved consistency and excellence across the group," he adds. Ms Leung explains that the hotel's policies, ranging from knowledge management to total quality management, are based on the hotel's vision to "change the face of Mongkok forever". "We respect every staff member in our quest to create a better work and personal life for all of us," she adds. "Disregarding academic qualifications, we believe every one of our colleagues can shine" Since opening just three years ago, the hotel has proved a leader in hospitality education and training in Hong Kong. Its ongoing dedication to equipping employees with knowledge and skills has led to the creation of a progressive and innovative management team eager to challenge industry norms. Langham Place Mongkok has also earned a number of prestigious awards, including the Hong Kong Management Association's "Excellence in Training Gold Award" and "Gold Award for Total Quality Management" and the American Society for Training and Development's "Excellence in Practice Award 2007". Hewitt & Associates also named the hotel one of the "Top Ten Best Employers in Hong Kong 2007". Salient points * Vocational training accreditation benefits employees and community * A number of catering and hospitality programmes to be phased in * Forward-thinking management keen to challenge norms * Expansion plans require increasing number of trained employees Taken from Career Times 16 May 2008, p. C16 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]