Month: January 2024

Nurturing Culinary Excellence: Angel Hill’s ‘Culinary Classroom’ Programme

Posted on by danbarber
For the Love of Food

At Angel Hill, we know that the heart of exceptional catering lies in the passion and skill of our chefs. That’s why we’ve established the ‘Culinary Classroom,’ an internal chef training program designed to harness and elevate the culinary talents within our ranks.

The Culinary Classroom is a year-long journey that offers chefs from across our organisation the unique opportunity to hone their craft and delve deeper into the intricacies of the culinary world. With a strong focus on essential skills and a deep understanding of our supply chain, this program equips our chefs with the tools they need to excel in the dynamic catering industry.

Module Diversity

The heart of the Culinary Classroom lies in its diverse curriculum. Our chefs embark on a thrilling educational journey that encompasses various facets of their profession:

  • Kitchen Management: Chefs learn the art of efficient kitchen management, ensuring every culinary operation runs smoothly.
  • Seasonality: Understanding the ebb and flow of seasonal ingredients is crucial in crafting menus that showcase the best of each season.
  • Menu Planning: Chefs master the art of menu creation, crafting dishes that delight the palate and meet the highest culinary standards.
  • Practical Cookery Skills: Hands-on training ensures our chefs excel in practical culinary techniques, bringing their creations to life.
Beyond the Kitchen

The Culinary Classroom is more than just classroom learning. It’s an interactive, practical, and enjoyable experience. It encourages our chefs to break away from the routine of their daily tasks and venture out to explore the broader food chain.

Farm Visits: Our chefs first-hand see where our ingredients originate. These visits foster a deep appreciation for the quality and origin of our produce.

Workshops: Specialised workshops led by industry experts expand our chefs’ horizons and expose them to new culinary perspectives.

Trade Shows: The program includes visits to trade shows and culinary events, keeping our chefs up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in the catering world.

A Path to Leadership

The Culinary Classroom is not just about enhancing skills; it’s also about nurturing leaders. We’re proud that many of our senior chefs have come through the ranks, starting their culinary journey with Angel Hill and rising to lead our ever-growing catering division.

In conclusion, the ‘Culinary Classroom program is a testament to our commitment to culinary excellence and the growth of our talented chefs. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that every dish we serve reflects our team’s passion, dedication, and expertise. Angel Hill is not just a catering company; it’s a culinary journey filled with love and dedication to the art of food.

“Since its launch in 2015, we’ve had over 60 colleagues progress through their journeys in the class, and it’s been an absolute privilege of mine to mentor and guide our people. Giving our people the opportunity to have new experiences and gain knowledge, skills and confidence in their profession gives me immense pride; it’s a true pleasure to behold each year’s class bond over their shared passion, a love for food.”

“Over the year, our Culinary Classroom has paved the way for our aspiring chefs to achieve their goals and aspirations, taking them to places they never thought possible within the industry. It’s been an absolute privilege to be a part of it; I can’t wait to see and meet the new chefs we take onto the Culinary Classroom in the future.”

avatar

Matt Vernon

Executive Development Chef

Best Experience: The Role of Amika Guest Services in Creating Outstanding Moments

Posted on by danbarber
Delivering the best experiences

In the world of hospitality, the role of guest services and concierge teams is pivotal. Amika Guest Services, with its unwavering commitment to excellence, stands at the forefront, bearing the responsibility of delivering the best experiences possible. These experiences can make all the difference, not only for guests but also for businesses, presentations, and overall productivity. Amika Guest Services plays a crucial role in ensuring that every interaction is exceptional and how these interactions contribute to the success of various endeavours.

Amika Guest Services understands that the little things matter. From when guests arrive to their departure, our dedicated team ensures that every detail is thoughtfully taken care of.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be, focusing on creating an environment where everyone feels safe, welcome, and secure.

The Impact on Return Guests

Exceptional guest experiences are more than just a warm welcome. They are the foundation for building lasting relationships. A memorable stay can differ between guests choosing to return or seeking alternatives. At Amika Guest Services, we aim to win hearts and minds, creating customers and advocates for our brand.

Boosting Business Success

In today’s competitive business world, presentations and meetings are critical. The quality of the guest experience can significantly impact the outcome. Amika Guest Services ensures business meetings run smoothly, presentations go well, and teams are optimised for success. Our attention to detail and commitment to excellence contribute to the overall productivity of your organisation.

Operational Resilience and Safety

Amika Guest Services goes beyond hospitality; we are also dedicated to operational resilience and safety. We follow proper procedures and best practices to keep everyone safe. Leveraging the support of our other FM divisions, such as catering, hard services, and security and access controls, we provide comprehensive solutions to ensure the security and well-being of all.

First impressions that last

Amika Guest Services is about creating outstanding moments that leave a lasting impression. Whether for guests, business endeavours, or safety measures, our team’s mission is to make people and places the best they can be. We understand the significance of providing every essential service our customers might require. It’s a responsibility we take seriously; ensuring the satisfaction and well-being of our customers is always our top priority.

“We understand the significance of providing every essential service our customers might require. It’s a responsibility we take seriously; ensuring the satisfaction and well-being of our clients is always our top priority.”

Huanita Wallace

OCS Front of House Ambassador

OCS Poised for Growth through ‘Best’ Brand Vision and Strategy

Posted on by stephanieamata

We are delighted to announce our ambitious plan to double our revenue over the next five years, positioning ourselves as a leading force in the global FM market. This strategic move is marked by the launch of our new brand vision and strategy, tailored to meet the dynamic needs of outsourced services in the business world.

The five ‘best’ pillars are central to our strategy – delivering the best experiences, productivity, practices, resilience, and outcomes for customers, colleagues, and communities. We aim to meet and exceed evolving customer expectations by focusing on technology, enhancing customers’ productivity and continuing to lead on best practices for safety, efficiency and performance.

Mergers and acquisitions further bolster our growth, deliver enhanced service quality across all sectors, and improve procurement and compliance processes, leading to integrated, high-quality facility management solutions.

The five ‘best’ pillars, developed in collaboration with industry leaders and our senior leadership team, address the macro challenges in the industries we serve, including technology integration, sustainability, environmental compliance, and talent management. Customer priorities are evaluated, and bespoke solutions are developed to tackle complex challenges.

This brand vision is a progression from OCS’s merger with Atalian Servest’s UK, Ireland, and Asia operations in March 2023, creating one of the largest international facilities service providers. This merger has expanded our capacity to offer a broader range of services and expertise, adding value to customers, partners, colleagues, and communities.

Emphasising our evidenced action approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, we align our operations with global initiatives like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This alignment reflects our dedication to operating consistently with our values.

With over 50,000 colleagues in the UK and Ireland and a global workforce exceeding 120,000, we plan to outpace competitors by leveraging emerging AI technology and innovation in learning and development. This approach supports our net zero 2040 strategy and our focus on creating positive change.

Launching our new brand and vision is a pivotal moment for OCS. With a rich 124-year history, we’ve proven to constantly evolve to provide exceptional customer service and maintain our competitive edge. Our role as a provider of critical services across multiple sectors requires us to align perfectly with our customer’s service needs and objectives. Being best-in-class in facilities management and making people and places the best they can be is about being a trusted partner to our customers, adding measurable outcomes for their operations.

Daniel Dickson

CEO of UK and Ireland

Unity: Arthur McKay to Operate Under OCS Banner

Posted on by ameliaroberts

The OCS TRUE values – Trust, Respect, Unity and Empowerment – have been the driving force for us as we have transformed as a business following the merger of OCS and Atalian Servest.

Arthur McKay, a leading building support service organisation, was an Atalian Servest company that provided smart and integrated services to over 1,000 client sites around the UK. As part of the consolidation of our operations and unification of our purpose and vision, Arthur McKay will no longer exist as a separate entity and is instead operating under the OCS banner.

We will continue to provide the same services and solutions – mechanical and electrical, fire protection, building fabric and data networks, to name just a few. Our 1,500 colleagues from Arthur McKay will continue to utilise their specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that customers benefit from a solution tailored to their specific needs, but now have the additional benefit of the backing and support of the OCS business.

The unification of Arthur McKay and our Hard Services division is an exciting change and one in which we hope will take us one step closer to achieving our mission of making people and places the best they can be.

“Bringing Arthur McKay and the rest of the M&E and Hard Services businesses together as a single OCS division provides a far greater depth of capability and capacity. This ensures our customers receive the very best service and enables the drive for innovation.”

Nick Maggs

Managing Director – Hard Services

The Power of Listening: Why Our Colleague Engagement Survey is Essential

Posted on by ameliaroberts

Embracing global perspectives

Every one of our OCS colleagues is valued, and as the Group Chief People Officer at OCS, in a company as diverse as ours and spread across numerous countries and embracing many languages and cultures, it’s imperative to truly listen to our colleagues. This understanding forms the bedrock of our strategy to become the world’s leading facilities service company.

The significance of every voice

In an organisation as vast as OCS, the insights and experiences of our colleagues, particularly those on the front lines, are invaluable. These team members are the eyes and ears of our operations, interacting directly with our customers and experiencing first-hand the daily challenges and triumphs. We must not only hear their voices but actively listen and engage with them.

Beyond the survey: A commitment to action

Conducting a colleague engagement survey is vital in this engagement process. However, the true essence of these surveys lies in what we do with the information we gather. It’s about turning feedback into action, ensuring every suggestion and insight raised is addressed, not just acknowledged. This approach isn’t just about improving our operational efficiency; it’s about fostering a culture where every colleague feels respected, valued, and heard.

Creating a stronger, unified OCS

Our ambition to be the best in the world is deeply intertwined with our internal culture. Engaging our colleagues through these surveys is more than just gathering data; it’s about empowering them to shape the future of OCS. Their insights are pivotal in crafting policies and practices that resonate with our diverse workforce, driving us towards a cohesive and inclusive organisational culture.

Conclusion: Cultivating a culture of continuous improvement

In our journey towards making people and places the best they can be, the engagement and satisfaction of our colleagues remains a top priority. Through our engagement surveys, we’re not just collecting opinions but inviting our colleagues to participate actively in our journey towards excellence. By listening and responding to them, we are enhancing their experience at OCS and reinforcing our position as a global leader. Together, we are building an exemplary OCS in service, colleague satisfaction, and engagement.

OCS: Pioneers of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

Posted on by danbarber

Now Globally Recognised: Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

The Sunflower Lanyard Scheme, initially launched at Gatwick Airport by OCS Group to assist passengers with hidden disabilities, has been successfully adopted in airports globally. This innovative initiative, which began as a trial over the summer, has significantly enhanced the travel experience for thousands of passengers and their families worldwide with hidden disabilities such as dementia, autism, or hearing loss.

Discreet recognition

Introducing these distinctive lanyards lets travellers discreetly inform airport teams of their need for tailored assistance. The lanyard ensures they receive the proper support throughout their journey, such as extra time for processing information or preparing belongings before security screening. OCS assistance teams across the UK and globally have undergone specialised training to recognise and appropriately respond to these lanyards.

This scheme is part of a broader initiative by OCS Group, which provides assistance services at multiple airports across the UK & Ireland and globally. The initiative was informed by the “Challenging for Change” report, which captured the experiences of passengers with disabilities and suggested improvements. Follow-up workshops facilitated dialogue and idea exchange among airlines, airport operators, baggage handlers, disability groups, and support service providers.

Charity Partnership & Collaboration

Key UK charities like the Alzheimer’s Society, The National Autistic Society, and Action on Hearing Loss have collaborated with Gatwick Airport and OCS Group in this endeavour. At launch, Nikki Barton, Head of Terminals and Passenger Assistance at Gatwick, highlighted the scheme’s role in reducing travel stress for passengers with hidden disabilities and the importance of training for frontline teams in enhancing passenger experiences.

OCS Group has 60 years of expertise in the aviation sector and their commitment to excellence for passengers needing additional assistance. The lanyard scheme, born from extensive consultations with disability groups, aims to minimise misinterpretations of the specific needs associated with hidden disabilities.

Specialist Colleague Training

The lanyard scheme’s rollout was supported by comprehensive training, with NVQ Level 2 training in dementia care now standard for OCS teams in the departure lounges. Numerous Dementia Friends Champions have been trained across the airports to further the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme.

Sue Rennie, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager for West Sussex North, said, “People with dementia and their family carers often find travelling daunting when faced with unfamiliar and busy airports. The lanyard scheme for passengers with hidden disabilities introduced at Gatwick offers reassurance to those who use it. It also helps airport teams know that they may require additional support, which can improve the passengers’ travel experience at the airport.”