A two-year, £1.6m Skills Agenda project to develop support products and services for small- and medium-sized businesses has been launched by the BHA this month.

The programme aims to increase the quality of service among small businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry and includes national research into the skills needs of small and medium-sized businesses, pilot work on improving food safety, and a range of support tools for people to use throughout the sector.

Initially, the programme will concentrate on establishing compliance modules in areas including food safety, nutrition and diet, fire safety, health and safety and employment law. It is expected they will be made available on a nation-wide basis by the end of this year.

Under an existing pilot programme in Yorkshire, some 200 caterers have already successfully undertaken a Safer Food Better Business workshop, with specialist follow-up support.

The programme, managed by the BHA, uses partnership funding from the European Social Fund (ESF), the BHA, People 1st Sector Skills Council and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Of the total cost, ESF funding comprises nearly 45 per cent, the remainder being match-funded by the BHA, People 1st and the FSA.

Bob Cotton, chief executive of the BHA, said: "This is a programme in addition to our normal independent service to members.

“It is part of the BHA's commitment to raising the profile of the 'skills agenda' - we want to do something about it. We are committed to raising skills levels throughout the industry."