Popular hospitality training series, HospoHeroes, returns this month with a new line up of instructors.
This year’s program features four workshops designed to elevate the expertise of front-of-house staff through specialised product knowledge and hands-on training.
Commencing late August, the workshops will be led by well-known industry professionals:
Welcome to Wine by Mitchell Harris Wines
Join Mitchell Harris Wines’ John Harris and Craig Mitchell for a half-day of training focussed on exceptional customer service and product knowledge. Participants will have the opportunity to taste different types of wines, learn about food pairing and uncover professional development opportunities for career progression.
Barista Basics by Karon Farm Coffee Roasters
During this two-hour course participants will learn essential coffee making skills under the supervision of qualified barista and coffee roaster, Marcus Frangos.
Local Spirits and Cocktail Masterclass by Itinerant Spirits
In this hands-on masterclass, cocktail master and gin expert, Blake Hall, and his team from Itinerant Spirits will equip bartenders and front-of-house staff with the knowledge to serve and speak to customers about local craft spirits.
Craft Beer Styles and Service Bootcamp by Aunty Jacks Brewing
Those who participate in this bootcamp will walk away with a better understanding of the important aspects of beer service and handling, as well as a thorough understanding of the characteristics, history and production of a range of different beer styles.
Local hospitality guru and owner of several Ballarat venues, Brian Taylor, has teamed up with Certified Cicerone brewing professor Dr Peter Aldred, and Certified Beer Server Matt Ives, to design and deliver this short course.
These sessions cater to both seasoned hospitality experts looking to enhance their skills and newcomers entering the industry.
HospoHeroes is fully subsidised for Tourism Midwest Victoria Industry Partners, with businesses able to register up to six staff members per workshop.
The series of workshops aims to foster a new generation of talent by providing a unique opportunity for hospitality workers to learn from passionate local professionals.
To register for one of the workshops, head to tourismmidwestvic.com.au
Quote attributable to Mitchell Harris’ Alicia Linley
“When people go out, they want both value for money, as well as exceptional customer service, so as business owners we must ensure staff have the skills and knowledge to wow customers. We must equip our staff not only with premium menus and products to serve, but also with the expertise and capabilities to best serve these.
The development of a culture of industry professionalism means we’re going to see long-term gain, and Ballarat being known for its great food and wine.
Welcome to Wine helps empower local staff by building their knowledge and practical skills in wine service, as well as develop a thirst to learn more and consider further career paths in the hospitality industry.“
Quote attributable to Aunty Jacks Brewing’s Brian Taylor
“We are seeing a lot of newbies joining the industry, which is great, but it can be challenging to find the time for in-depth staff training – by banding together with other businesses, it benefits everyone.
At Aunty Jacks, as a micro-brewery, we need our staff to be able to speak confidently about the craft beers we produce, and it is great to be able to share our in-house expertise to help other venues speak about Ballarat’s great local beers and hopefully sell more of these ahead of imported or mainstream beers.
Investing in staff training is not just about giving staff the practical skills, it’s about getting them to love the industry and be passionate about it. We want more young people to see their jobs in the industry as a career with career progression opportunities.”
Quote attributable to Itinerant Spirits’ Brad Wilson
“One of the reasons we came to Ballarat to open Itinerant Spirits was because of the vibrant, diverse, and evolving hospitality industry here. It’s a privilege to be teaming up with a group of industry leaders who have pioneered and continue to strengthen Ballarat’s reputation in great food, wine, craft drinks and customer service.
Our Itinerant distilling, bar and FOH team members have a wealth of industry experience, from near and far, and we look forward to helping instil a sense of curiosity, passion, and pride in the next wave of front-line hospo professionals who help showcase our craft spirits with both locals and visitors to the region.
We are so fortunate to be surrounded by other distillers who are working towards achieving a collective vision for the region, as opposed to viewing each other as competition.”
Quote attributable to Karon Farm Coffee’s Marcus Frangos
“By empowering the staff in your organisation, you give them confidence to work autonomously and have pride in what they themselves are producing. Overall, the product needs to be good for customers to return, so it’s the best investment you can make.
Staff can expect to be immersed into the world of coffee education, roasting and brewing. They will be shown the ins and outs of the most prominent coffee brewing equipment in the market and will be taken through the integral steps of coffee bar setup and workflow all the way through brewing, diagnosing good and bad espresso and how to produce consistently delicious milk beverages.
Let’s hope this raises the bar in coffee making in Ballarat and demonstrates to business owners that if staff are trained well, and good quality products and equipment is used, then it will positively impact the bottom line of their businesses.”