Taste Causeway has collaborated with North West Regional College (NWRC) Business Support Centre (BSC) to develop a new Health and Safety Working Practices course for hospitality businesses in the Causeway Coast and Glens. It is relevant to restaurants, cafes, takeaways, food vans and restaurants within hotels. All participants will gain an appreciation and understanding of relevant legislation and guidance from the government and other relevant agencies such as the Health and Safety Executive and its application to their business. Businesses will be required to complete a risk assessment and map out additional equipment and PPE required for employee and public safety within their premises and assess the viability of these working practices. Each business will also appoint a dedicated Champion who will be the point of contact for their business to disseminate updates/information/best practice to be made and implemented.
On successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded a Level 2 Health and Safety Working Practices qualification. Taste Causeway and its partner organisations will use the scheme as part of their recovery marketing and return to work planning.

Sharon Scott from Taste Causeway, a business-led Food and Drink Network which is funded by Invest NI Collaborative Growth Programme and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Business Support added:

“We are delighted to work with NWRC and harness their expertise and experience to deliver a course which meets the needs of the hospitality businesses at this difficult time. The CO-VID pandemic has decimated the industry who have been closed for over 10 weeks now. As we enter the recovery phase and plan for re-opening, it was important for the businesses that they were trained in health and safety and received a recognised qualification to help them understand their legal obligations. This course provides information in an accessible way and helps give businesses the confidence to navigate the minefield of guidelines and procedures that they have received in recent weeks. Collaboratively, the hospitality businesses are able to go their customers with this key message that they are open and ready for business. We are hoping that over the coming weeks to get as many businesses as possible through the course to send out a clear, concise message which is backed up by recognised accredited training and business support”

Sinead Hawkins from NWRC Business Support Centre said:

“This was a unique request that initially came from Taste Causeway. We then talked this through with many of our clients in the Innovation Centre and found there were genuine concerns about applying the guidelines from government. We wanted to see how we could provide a course that practically guided and supported businesses in returning to work. We have a fantastic curriculum team in this area that developed and drove this idea forward. We are delighted that Safe Cert are accrediting this online course at Level 2 and we plan to role this out to other industries in the next few weeks.”

Businesses can apply for further details or register for the course at info@tastecauseway.com

For further information contact
Sharon Scott
Taste Causeway
Mob: 07827 321492
Email info@tastecauseway.com

Taste Causeway CIC is run by a network of local food and drink producers, food tourism and hospitality businesses throughout the Causeway Coast and Glens’ destination. Taste Causeway is an Invest NI Collaborative Growth Network and is also supported by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The Network works as a collaboration to promote the world-renowned food and drink, cultivated by passionate people, in the stunning landscape of the Causeway Coast & Glens, drawing on our rich landscape and long heritage to create extraordinary eating experiences, harnessing digital technology and innovation to develop fresh takes on old traditions.