Sofitel St. James Hotel, London
The exclusive Sofitel St. James Hotel is located in the grade II-listed former home of Cox and King’s bank in the heart of London’s West End, making it one of the area’s most unique five star hotels.
Part of global brand, Accor Hotels, the 184-bedroom Sofitel St. James employs almost 200 staff who are committed to delivering excellence in all areas. To maintain this standard, HR and talent manager, Andre Roche, regularly trains his staff to keep them motivated and highly skilled.
Andre says: “Training is very important to us – we want to ensure that our guests’ expectations are met and staff are fully engaged. We call our staff ‘Ambassadors,’ as they represent our brand and are a reflection of the business. We really value training in bringing out the best in our Ambassadors, so we make sure to invest in this on a regular basis. For the past three years we have been using the Group Training Certificate with great results.”
The Group Training Certificate (GTC) is run by the People 1st Training Company, and trains delegates to design and deliver effective, interactive training sessions to groups of people. It is designed especially for heads of departments and team leaders.
Andre says: “I first found out about the People 1st Training Company through networking and links with an external trainer we use on a regular basis. We piloted GTC in 2009 and were really impressed by the content, delivery and impact it had on the business. I look to empower all of my managers and develop their skills - including presentation skills and overall communication. GTC does just that, in an inspiring and dynamic way.”
All Sofitel St. James staff are required to undertake some formal, certified training as part of their development, and the hotel has chosen GTC to fulfil this element of the programme.
Andre says: “The GTC helps our Ambassadors as it has practical, realistic and achievable aims. It is clearly structured and gives trainees useful, step-by-step tips to follow. At the end of training, we hold an employee success party where our Ambassadors are presented with their training certificates and Sofitel training passports. This is really enjoyed by all – it gives staff a great sense of achievement and motivates them.
“You can’t underestimate the effect that training can have on a business. It is truly a worthwhile investment and shows employees how much they are valued. I look forward to continuing GTC at Sofitel St. James.”
More information on the Group Training Certificate, and other ‘train the trainer’ programmes, is available on the People 1st Training Company website – www.people1sttraining.co.uk