ACFWS

Training Introduction

Academy of Food & Wine - Training

With the growth and change in the food and wine service industry over the past few years, the role of training and its importance is constantly in need of being redefined.
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One of the Academy of Food & Wine’s main areas of activity is training. We believe that ‘training is an investment, not a cost’ but also understand that many businesses are time and resource poor. The Academy’s approach is to work closely with all the key stakeholders in the market and utilise their skills and experience where necessary for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

With this in mind we have devised, in conjunction with industry, a number of training programmes and materials that give the on-trade the skills they require, but at a fraction of the cost normally associated with such training. This is achieved through donations from organisations such as the Savoy Educational Trust as well as sponsorships from industry suppliers.

The AFW training programmes range from 90-minute masterclasses through to a ten-day foundation course in food & beverage service and most sizes in between. Our Service Training packs can be used in-house to conduct your own training.

Further information and booking information for each of the initiatives outlined below can be found by clicking on the relevant menu link on right hand side of this page.

If you don't see something exactly fitting your requirements then please don’t despair, the Academy can also create bespoke programmes to address all your training needs.

Professional Connoisseur Series.

Training given by experienced professionals offering practical training programmes for people who wish to learn more about the industry. The first of this series is Senses, Service & Skills – an introduction to sommellerie course.

Senses, Service & Skills – an introduction to Sommellerie is a beginner’s guide to the basics of Sommellerie (wine waiting) run by a top sommelier and is for people who would like to learn about the basics of sommellerie. We believe that a well-trained sommelier will not only leave his customers happy but is also likely to improve the business’ bottom line! Sommellerie involves so much more than just opening a bottle of wine.

Students will learn the essential basics about wine, viticulture, the major varietals, wine service and winemaking. In addition, and importantly, a wine professional obviously has to have some experience in the tasting of wine and thus you will study the different components of wine appearance, aroma, and flavour.

Advantage Masterclasses

In conjunction with the UK Guild of Restaurant Service and the UK Guild of Wine Service this series of masterclasses meets the need for short, sharp and effective bite-sized training.

· We provide focussed learning in 90-minute bite-sized sessions at a fraction of the cost usually associated with this sort of training.
· Our courses aim to equip delegates with skills they can put into action immediately.
· We run our courses at times that suit the busy, on-trade professional.
· Our Advantage presenters are passionate about their topics and offer a wealth of knowledge, often gained from years of experience on the ‘front-line’.
· Subjects include a number of topics aimed at helping you increase your average spend in this time of economic uncertainty.

Masterclass topics include:
Upselling – How to maximise your average spend without upsetting the customer
Building and Motivating a Team – Make the most of your existing assets
First Impressions Count – Improve your customer service
The Seven P’s – The Service Marketing Mix – use it right to boost your sales
Charm School – Conflict resolution and how to deal with customer issues.

Product Tutorials

A two-hour long tutorial focussed on a particular country or region’s grape varieties, brands or local produce. Designed for wine waiters, sommeliers, F & B supervisors and others interested in gaining more product knowledge, these tutorials are a great way to immerse your staff in the topic of the day.

Licence to Work in Hospitality Service

Created with help from employers and financial support from the Savoy Educational Trust, this is a five-day course designed to equip those planning on entering the industry, or who are about to commence their first job, with the necessary skills required.

The course is subsidised by the Academy of Food & Wine and as a result is a cost-effective way to ensure all your F & B staff are competent at a basic level. The Academy can adapt this training so that it is run in conjunction with your own induction training and kitemark the complete package.

The training covers Food and Wine Service; Communication skills; Customer Service; Health & Safety, Basic Food Hygiene and interpersonal skills (appearance, interview skills etc.).

A 60 hour version of the same programme is also available and has been recently piloted with Job Centre Plus to encourage the unemployed to consider a position in the hospitality industry. Each successful candidate is guaranteed an interview for a job from key employers in the Industry who have signed up to the Academy’s “ACE” programme (www.acfws.org) – Academy Centres of training Excellence, thus creating a constant stream of personnel with the appropriate basic certificate of training for quality service.

Performance Improvement Programme

This two-day (12 hour) long programme provides delegates with the knowledge to improve profit performance through customer service. Delegates learn about customer service, upselling and how to get the best from the customer to improve the bottom line. The cost of £200 per delegate (£400 for non-members) is subsidised by the Academy of Food & Wine and is aimed at supervisors and managers, with a view to them imparting this knowledge to the rest of their team.

Training Packs

In addition to the programmes we run, we also have a selection of training materials. These packs are designed with the on-trade in mind. We have ensured they can be approached in piece-meal fashion, so can be used in-house when the time allows.

The packs can be used by an individual or (with the purchase of additional licenses) by a trainer to a group of people. Our packs focus on various elements of front of house and include Customer Service (3 levels), Food Service, Wine Service, Meetings & Events Service and Bar Service.