A FREE service will be launched this week to create a “trained and ready workforce” for the understaffed hospitality and leisure sectors.

The hospitality and customer service programme At Your Service is being operated by the charitable housing association BCHA with support from BCP Council.

Training on the four-week course includes accredited City and Guilds level two food and hygiene; barista training; level two certificate in customer service; and level two certificate in personal development for employability.

BCHA’s employability and skills experts also help participants with job searches, interview preparation and coaching.

BCHA project manager Val Jefferies, said: “At Your Service has been created in direct response to unemployment resulting from Covid and the current skills shortage and recruitment challenges within the hospitality and leisure sectors across BCP.

“The vision of a post-Covid high street is shifting away from largely retail towards an experiential arena for customers to enjoy eateries, coffee shops, themed pop-up food outlets and galleries. This will create substantial and much needed growth within the hospitality and leisure sectors.

“At Your Service recognises that many people who have lost their jobs already have valuable transferable skills, which when teamed with relevant training, coaching and work experience can enable them to enter into meaningful employment in these sectors. It will also give them a sense of purpose and pride in being part of the regrowth of the local economy.

“We would like to invite referral partners and local hospitality employers to join us at the launch of At Your Service to learn more about the programme, meet the course chef and the team, explore opportunities to work together and make a real difference to those individuals and businesses within this sector.”

The launch takes place on Thursday, October 7, 2-4pm, at BCHA’s site The Factory, 14 Alder Hills, Poole BH12 4AS.

Participants from the first course will be on hand to talk about the training and practical and professional support they have received and to serve coffee and desserts they have prepared.

Register at eventbrite.co.uk/e/at-your-service-launch-with-coffee-and-desserts-tickets-170132267191