Hotelympia 2010 news: CESA’s new training and qualification projects set to raise standards.

ExCeL debuts for professional accreditation scheme and open-source training project
Stand N1660, London ExCeL, 28 Feb – 4 March 2010

Raising standards and professionalism throughout the foodservice industry is the focus on the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) stand. In 2009 the Association launched CFSP, a new specialist qualification designed to give foodservice managers a better understanding of their industry. CFSP (Certified Foodservice Professional) is improving professionalism within the industry by creating a universally respected standard for knowledge and experience, says CESA.

Meanwhile CESA‘s work with Oxford Brookes University continues apace. Building on the success of their joint Save It! campaign, designed to reduce energy consumption, they have launched a pilot series of open-source hospitality training courses at www.open-course.org.uk 

Both the CFSP and the Open Course projects will be highlighted on the CESA stand.

CFSP: raising the professional standard

Covering every area of food production, including food safety, distribution, kitchen design, new technology and sustainability, the CFSP qualification has been designed for professionals working throughout the foodservice industry and will benefit both individuals and organisations. Gaining a CFSP will not only make executives more effective in their role, but also improves their personal development and gives them a distinct advantage in terms of career advancement. For employers it provides a competitive edge by creating a more effective, motivated and educated workforce, while demonstrating leadership and a commitment to staff development.

Accessible Education & Training

Food safety and carbon management are the first courses available at the Open Course project. Designed for ‘the typical hospitality business’, the project is part-funded by the Higher Educational Academy with the objective of exploring the opportunity of delivering freely accessible hospitality education and training. Peter Jarrett at Oxford Brookes University heads the project and has launched a series of training resources, including podcasts, which can be found at the www.open-course.org.uk 

The Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) represents over 130 companies who supply, service and maintain all types of commercial catering equipment – from utensils to full kitchen schemes. For more information on CESA visit www.cesa.org.uk