Two of the UK hospitality industry's most respected specialists in finance and responsible business training have joined forces to offer courses tailored to large and small hospitality businesses on key aspects of 'green' regulation compliance; and quantifying, measuring and tracking environmentally and socially responsible performance.

The facilitators in question are Debra Adams, Managing Director of arena4finance –which focuses on delivering courses on financial topics for the service sectors; and industry consultant Dr Rebecca Hawkins, a Director of the Responsible Hospitality Partnership and Research and Consultancy Fellow to the Oxford School of Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University. Initially, they are offering one half-day and two full-day courses which will be held in October at The Cavendish, London in the capital's Jermyn Street.

"Recognising the ever increasing importance of monitoring, recording and reporting on environmentally and socially responsible performance in the hospitality industry, Rebecca and I have got together to provide appropriate training courses to meet growing industry demand," explained Debra Adams. "The facts speak for themselves – a Carbon Trust study in March, for example, found that 56% of consumers are more concerned about businesses' actions to reduce their impacts on climate change than they were five years ago; and 53% of employees want to work for companies that are committed to reducing their environmental impact. In addition, there is a burgeoning collection of regulations requiring compliance."

The courses will be delivered by Debra Adams – who is also Head of Education for BAHA, which later this month becomes HOSPA (Hospitality Professionals Association for Finance, Revenue Management and IT) – and Dr Hawkins, supported by guest speakers who are all experts in their fields.

The first course – entitled 'Introduction – Environmental issues for Finance Managers' – will be staged on the afternoon of 6 October, with registration from 2pm. The cost per delegate will be £275 plus VAT, and includes access to online classroom resources. The course has been specifically developed for hospitality finance managers and employees new to responsible business roles, as well as industry consultants, accountants and others who advise hospitality businesses. It will introduce them to their obligations to report on progress to shareholders, customers and those with an interest in their businesses.

The second course has been designed for large hospitality enterprises, and it is entitled 'Large Businesses – Meeting Environmental Management and Reporting Requirements'. It will be held on 13 October, with registration from 9am. The price per delegate will be £375 plus VAT, and includes access to online classroom resources. It has been created for senior finance directors or those new to responsible duties within large hospitality companies with ten or more operating units.

"This full-day course will provide delegates with a full understanding of the regulatory framework within which they operate and the processes necessary to collate annual reports within hospitality businesses," explained Dr Hawkins. "Delegates will leave the course with a good understanding of what their regulatory obligations are, case studies of how other businesses are reporting, and a framework for their own environmental reports."

The third course shares similar objectives to the second course, but has been specifically designed for small hospitality operations and is entitled 'Small Businesses – Meeting Environmental Management and Reporting Requirements'. It will be held on 20 October, with registration from 9am. The cost per delegate will be £375 plus VAT, and includes access to online classroom resources. It has been developed for senior finance directors or those new to responsible business duties within small hospitality companies, with 10 units or less – including single independently owned operations.

For bookings and further information, contact Debra Adams on email: [email protected] ; or telephone: 01202 842 809

Dr Julian Demetriadi FIH MTS
Managing Director, CommunicationsPoint
01722 238 627
Responsible Hospitality Partnership Ltd.