Restaurant Industry Apprentice Scheme Receives Major Boost

Restaurant Industry Apprentice Scheme Receives Major Boost

Ideal recipe for future success

Auckland, 30 April 2012 - The Restaurant Association of New Zealand today announced it was boosting its support of young entrants to the hospitality sector with a significant new contract to manage the industry’s apprenticeship schemes in the North Island.

“The industry is talent-based and needs quality apprentices. We can now offer business owners more choice and flexibility to take on this talent,” says Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.

Business owners in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Wellington can now access the Restaurant Association’s Group Modern Apprenticeship Scheme. This Group Scheme, in which the Restaurant Association’s Education Trust takes over the employment risk, has been operating successfully in Auckland for five years.

In addition, the contract with the Hospitality Standards Institute will see the Restaurant Assocation deliver the HSI Managed Cookery Modern Apprenticeship Programme. Business owners directly employ apprentices in a more traditional model, with support from Regional Co-ordinators to mentor and assess apprentices.

“The role of selecting and nurturing the future stars of New Zealand hospitality is vital, and the Restaurant Association is ideally positioned to drive these programmes.

“What we’re offering is unique in the industry, and reduces the barriers for employers to taking on apprentices.

“These barriers include perceptions of the amount of work involved, a lack of understanding of the modern apprenticeship concept and the reluctance of many owner-operators to commit to an employment relationship with someone who needs basic training and mentoring.

“That’s why we originally developed our Group scheme, to make it easier for hospitality businesses to take on apprentices. Adding the Managed Programme now gives business owners a co-ordinated approach to fostering new apprentices. It’s crucial that we keep attracting talented young people; the long term future of the industry depends on it,” says Bidois.

20 year old Oriwia Morrell is 12 months into an apprenticeship with Ponsonby's Richmond Road Cafe. Oriwia says the support of the Restaurant Association through her Group Scheme mentor has been very important in helping her progress.

"They check up and make sure I'm being taken care of. We're encouraged to enter competitions too.

"Since I started I've got a really good feel for the industry. I love it, I've got more responsibility and have a career I can look to now", says Oriwia.
The Association has appointed hospitality veteran Martin Harrap to manage the apprenticeship scheme.

“Martin has been working as our Salon Coordinator at the Culinary Fare for the last four years. This, coupled with his long and illustrious career in the culinary arts, makes Martin a great person to lead the programme. He will be supported by the talented Peter Le Grice, who has been coordinating the Auckland programme since 2007, and also by Wellington-based former Ruth Pretty chef, Tracey Lines, from mid-April,” says Bidois.

Hospitality Standards Institute CEO Ken Harris is pleased to have the extended partnership agreement with the Association, and agrees with Bidois that it is essential to attract and train future hospitality talent.

“The Modern Apprenticeship programme is a great way to train young people for a chef’s career. We look forward to working with the Association to see many of those apprentices achieve their goals,” says Harris.

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