News

Caterersearch.com 100 who's who in restaurants

Earlier this month, Caterersearch.com, in association with Bisto, revealed its list of the 100 most influential people in hospitality. In its second article analysing the list, they look at the biggest players in the restaurant sector.

This article is from Catersearch.com by Daniel Thomas.

From Richard Caring and Nick Jones who have conquered the market in private members' clubs, to Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, undisputed kings of the London restaurant scene, to Harvey Smyth and Graham Turner, who between them dominate the casual dining sector, the top five in the 2010 list reads like a who's who of UK restaurateurs.

And while you are unlikely to spot Elton John and Beyoncé at the opening of a Café Rouge or a PizzaExpress - the pop stars were among a host of celebrities at the opening of Soho House West Hollywood earlier this year - there are some aspects that unite the leaders of these leading hospitality brands.

Continue reading Comments (0) 22 July 2010

Chef training - a worthwhile investment

We like this article from EP magazine about how chef training and development delivers real bottom line results by Brian Wisdom, Chief Executive of People 1st.

Continue reading Comments (0) 9 July 2010

Purple newsletter June 2010

17 June 2010

Nick Caton - General Manager, Soho House private members club

1. Nick, can you give us a brief introduction to Soho House?

High level but very relaxed service for the film, music and media industry – somewhere they can see familiar faces and be treated with smiles. It’s somewhere to go on your own or in big groups. ‘Understate and over deliver’ would be our motto and ‘work hard play hard’ would be our attitude. (No wonder we get along so well, that’s learnpurple’s motto and attitude too!)

Continue reading 8 June 2010

Flip it - How to get the best out of everything

Continue reading Comments (0) 8 June 2010

Transform your organisation. Skills for chefs

learnpurple was set up in 2001 to tackle skills shortages and other key people issues within the hospitality industry. A key focus has been on chefs. Our work centres on employee engagement, learning and development and the retention of talent. We are therefore delighted to be linked with the "Skills for Chefs" initiative and to be working in partnership with The Spread: Recipe & Directory book for Catering Professionals. Over the years we have worked with many chefs and our trainers and associates are always thoroughly inspired by working with such talented, creative and driven individuals. We've seen some exceptional leadership skills and discipline and we're very enthusiastic about helping to promote best practice within this sector of the industry.

Continue reading Comments (0) 13 May 2010

Terms of engagement

We like this article from Caterer and Hotelkeeper by David MacLeod. Click here to read this in full.

As Businesses regroup after the recession, it's time to motivate staff for the challenges the upturn will bring.

It has been a challenging 18 months for the hospitality industry. But with the economy starting to show signs of improvement, management teams in restaurants, hotels and catering firms across the country are mapping out plans for 2010 and beyond.

As business owners and managers regroup, they need to think about the connection they have with their people - and how it could be improved.

Everyone knows that the past 12 months has been a difficult and uncertain time for employees. The question is: are your people prepared and motivated for the new challenges that the upturn will bring?

Continue reading 26 April 2010

learnpurple client Victory Services Club - best places to work

This article was taken from Caterersearch.com. Click here to read this article in full.

The Victory Services Club in London has won numerous employer awards in recent years and has seen its staff turnover plummet from 120% to 14% in five years. Daniel Thomas [Caterersearch.com] reports on why it is one of the best places to work in hospitality.

Continue reading Comments (0) 20 April 2010

Ask the experts: What's the best way to train staff on a budget?

This article is taken from BigHospitality (19th April 2010). Click here to read this artcile in full.

BigHospitality puts one reader's question about staff training to Jane Sunley, chief executive of learnpurple.

Problem: I own a mid-market restaurant, which is popular for the simple but well prepared meals, the relaxed atmosphere and the low prices. We can’t afford to pay the higher salaries for well-trained front-of-house staff, so we train our employees – many of whom are foreigners – ourselves, and also send them on regular training courses. But all the courses we’ve tried have taught them nothing new – they simply hand out certificates for what our staff already know. How can I choose the best courses to know that my investment is worthwhile, and that the staff will learn things that will improve the service we offer and benefit our business?

Continue reading Comments (0) 20 April 2010

Stephen Carter - Managing Director, Cameron House, De Vere Deluxe, Scotland

Cameron House is a magnificent baronial mansion surrounded by over 100 acres of ancient woodland on the shores of Loch Lomond. It has undergone a substantial refurbishment in the last two years and now blends traditional Scottish influences with sumptuous contemporary décor offering our guests a memorable stay in the finest surroundings set within some spectacular landscapes. The House is now supplemented with a championship golf course and destination spa at The Carrick, a further 300 acres adjacent to the main Estate.

Continue reading 30 March 2010