There is a high demand for hospitality staff, and specifically for bartenders. The hospitality sector is also looking for experienced people, Joris Rutsaert of Horeca Forma explains. ‘The hospitality sector needs skilled men and women. Bartending isn’t for everyone. You have to make drinks, serve customers in the bar, and deal with a lot of stress and peak times, but you also get a lot in return.’
9-weeks of training needed!
The course takes place once a year in the main Flemish cities. Nine trainees are taking the course in Bruges and Ostend this year. There is a practical module in which they learn everything about drinks. This covers coffee, wine, beer, spirits, cocktails and mocktails.
“Trainees learn how to make drinks themselves, such as cocktails and mocktails,” says Rutsaert. “They make the syrup and infusions themselves and mix everything. That requires skill. In this way, they also build up that passion and feel truly proud when they work as bartenders. They now have to prove themselves during a three-week work placement and hopefully they will then embark on a successful career in the hospitality industry.”
Front-of-house skills and managing stress
The bartenders’ training course also includes a front-of-house module, which takes place in Ostend. Here, trainees learn how to set tables and everything about customer service.
“The trainees are also tested during simulations: customers come in and have to be served. Stressful situations are deliberately created, and then they receive feedback and learn to put everything together. After six weeks, they should be sufficiently confident to start their work placement.”
Who are the new bartenders?
The group due to graduate soon is young. Some are unemployed, others are on income support. There is also a gardener retraining and a young woman working in the social sector. It is a very diverse group.