The growing tourism industry in Merseyside comprises mainly small businesses and entrepreneurs. Among the issues that these businesses require support for are recruiting and training staff and general human resource services. Merseyside is now in a position to assist small tourism business by giving them the opportunity to draw upon a shared human resource capacity.
Englandís Northwest Tourism Skills Network (ENWTSN) is one of only nine projects across the whole country, to be selected by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) to pilot the delivery of shared HR resources to SMEís which employ between five and 50 staff.
Andrea Higginson, ENWTSNís Tourism Skills Co-ordinator for Merseyside submitted the successful feasibility study in partnership with Deborah Pownall and Dr Martin Selby, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).
Today, Monday 16th February, Knowsley Safari Park signed up for the Shared Human Resource Service ñ making them the first.
Sean Lawler, Amusement Park Manager, Knowsley Safari Park is keen to set up a new appraisal system for all staff. Sean will now have access to up to the minute assistance on employment law issues plus expert advice on obtaining funding towards training and development.
From today, business that sign up have password protected access to a range of online services, including the facility to generate bespoke legal documents such as contracts of employment, offer letters and grievance and disciplinary procedures by answering simple questions with the help of online guidance.
Latest figures demonstrate Merseysideís Tourism and Leisure sector employs 43,800 people with a further 21,800 jobs supported by Tourism spending alone. Employment in Tourism, Sport, Heritage and Creative sector is set to increase by at least 14,000 new jobs based on current growth, investment and the successful bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.
Andrea Higginson, who is based at The Mersey Partnership, said: ìI would like to thank Liverpool John Moores University, The Mersey Partnership and all partners for their support, and I am thrilled that the City Region now has this opportunity. Over 75% of tourism businesses in the area could directly benefit from this shared HR resource.
ìThis pilot initiative aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of different providers and funding methods, and also raises awareness in small business about the benefits of best practice HR.î
Recently Andrea worked with Deborah Pownall, Senior Lecturer, Leisure and Tourism, LJMU to appoint two HR consultants, Anna Patterson and Carmel Wylie to assist SMEís in the Merseyside tourism industry with HR issues. They are on hand to help reduce staff turnover, keep businesses up to date with current legislation and assess training needs.
Thomas OíBrien, Chief Executive of The Mersey Partnership said: ìItís very exciting for Merseysideís growing tourism industry to be selected as the only Northern pilot project as part of this national feasibility study. For our SMEís itís a great opportunity to access a shared human resource support service to help with their recruitment and training of staff as they develop their businesses.î
Dr Martin Selby, Advisor to Tourism HR project and Senior Lecturer at LJMU said: ìThis is an innovative project which values the perspectives and practical experiences of tourism businesses on Merseyside. Human resources are crucial to the tourism industry, but it is only through building successful relationships with business that Tourism HR can offer assistance and training that will meet the needs of the industry on Merseyside. We hope that the Tourism HR approach will become a model for assisting SMEs nationally.î
Merseyside selected to host pilot human resource initiative
.