Hospitality NZ launches course to develop future leaders

'It's an investment in the future of hospitality's people'

Hospitality NZ launches course to develop future leaders

Hospitality New Zealand has announced its Emerging Leaders Programme that aims to develop workers into future leaders for the workforce amid a "huge skills shortages" across the country.

In an announcement, Hospitality NZ said the objective of the programme is to "provide current and future supervisors and managers with insights, information, and ideas on how to develop their leadership skills."

"With huge skills shortages across the industry, and with limits on skilled immigrants, we need to increase the skills of those who want to make a career in this great industry, and the Emerging Leaders Programme is aimed at doing that," said Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White in a statement.

According to the announcement, the programme will be taking on a "unique approach" that will engage with workers as soon as they enter the industry, so they can have access to skills development and career pathways and progression.

For the initiative, Hospitality NZ tapped hospitality expert Shane Green, who will use his vast experience as a business leader to "transform employee and manager mindsets and behaviours to improve customer experience, employee engagement, and organisational performance." 

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White said they are so excited to work with Green on the project.

"Shane brings a vast amount of insight and expertise back to New Zealand after working and consulting around the world over the past twenty years for some of the most recognised hospitality brands," she said. "His energy, expertise, and leadership is why we are so excited for this partnership."

The course will be delivered online, according to Hospitality NZ, to make it more accessible to the workforce. It will also make it immediate in job application in a bid to be regionally inclusive nad relevant.

"The one-to-many format allows whole teams to upskill together and will embed a culture of development and excellence," said White.

"It's an exciting programme that I believe will go a long way to making our industry more resilient," she added. "It's an investment in the future of hospitality's people."