21.02.2006
Eighty-five owners of small and medium sized hotels and guest houses in Sussex will be getting entrepreneurial and business training from a consortium of training providers led by Tourism South East and including the university's School of Service Management.
The Welcome Sussex Project was awarded £170,000 by the Sussex Learning and Skills Council to deliver the training which will include business planning, marketing, customer service, e-commerce, IT and management skills amongst others.
The training will include one-to-one business advisory sessions as well as short 'learning bursts' accessible through on-line provision. The university will also evaluate the impact the project has on improving business performance
"Tourism is an essential part of the economy in Sussex, providing vital jobs and income for the area." Said Sue Gill, Head of Skills and Training, Tourism South East.
"It's important that hoteliers get the best training to ensure that they take advantage of the latest developments in IT and e-commerce to remain competitive and I'm delighted that the university is able to be a partner in this project." Said Chris Dutton, Deputy Head of the School of Service Management.
"Proprietors of small businesses like guest houses can often feel isolated and may not have access to training so the university will be helping to set up networks to share good practice."
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
