Quest announces new NZQA qualifications for staff

Quest announces new NZQA qualifications for staff

Quest is introducing a new on-the-job training programme to help staff gain nationally recognised qualifications.

Quest has begun a trial programme, offering the National Certificate in Hospitality (Housekeeping) – Level 2, and National Certificate in Hospitality (Front Office) – Level 3 to staff. It involves mostly on-the-job training and assessment over a six-month period.

The programmes are run by the service industry training organisation, ServiceIQ and are recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). The qualifications will be available at no cost to staff.

Once the trial is complete, the qualifications will be offered to all staff after completing their 90-day induction. Quest franchise directors are currently training to become workplace verifiers for the qualifications, and will carry out the necessary on-the-job assessments. And final assessments will be made by an in-house NZQA registered assessor.

ServiceIQ Chief Executive Dean Minchington says the hotel sector relies on its staff to provide a consistently welcoming guest experience, and employers need to have confidence their staff can provide that.

“HotelIQ provides a nationally recognised qualification in the National Certificate in Hospitality. We are pleased to be working with Quest Apartments and their staff on this pilot programme and look forward to seeing the programme made more widely available through Quest Apartments.”

For four years, Quest staff have been able to learn on the job through the company’s own training modules, gaining knowledge specific to their roles.

Stephen Mansfield, CEO Quest Serviced Apartments New Zealand, says Quest is introducing these qualifications at the same time as the upgrading of their recruitment, induction and performance-management programmes.

“This focus on growing the skills and knowledge of our staff is central to making Quest synonymous with the best hospitality. Offering the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications underlines our commitment to the career development of our staff. It’s our people who make Quest successful.”

For more on Quest Serviced Apartments, visit: www.questapartments.co.nz.

ENDS

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