Restaurant De Werf from Veere has been named the winner of the Best Hospitality Training Company 2022/2023 competition. In second place is 't Voorhuys in Emmeloord, followed by De Hof in Renswoude. Mark Benneker from 't Kruisselt in De Lutte received the title of Best Mentor Hospitality 2022/2023. The competition committee noted that where craftsmanship is practised, which certainly applies to the Top 3, there is a lot of attention for staff and trainees. Love for the product is, in this case, also love for the people.
On the last day of the Horecava, Ricardo Eshuis from SVH (Stichting Vakbekwaamheid hospitality) announced the winners of both competitions. The competition committee for Best Hospitality Training Company was very impressed with the practical route that the winner, restaurant De Werf in Veere, devised together with ROC Scalda. Eshuis: “The company saw the staff shortages arising and therefore, together with ROC Scalda, devised a new training form for practical learning. This is for both young people who find the school route difficult and for young people with a distance to the labour market. This makes individual learning on the work floor very feasible and provides new intake. For the regular routes, the training company follows the school's line, tailored to the student's level and pace. There is room for all training levels, with De Werf optimally assessing what a student's level is and which mentor fits that. Learning and working are here on the same level as fun and creating.”
Personal guidance through buddy system at 't Voorhuys
Eshuis also praised numbers 2 and 3. No other company in the region guides trainees like 't Voorhuys in Emmeloord does, the number 2. Eshuis: “Through the buddy system, there is a lot of time for personal guidance. There are sufficient mentors available; the trainee-mentor ratio is almost 1 to 1. During the two-week induction programme, this training company maps out exactly what a trainee's starting level is and where they want to grow.”
Also attention to socio-emotional Your career at De Hof
De Hof in Renswoude, the number 3, is so much more than just a training company, according to the competition committee. It is an environment where, besides the profession, socio-emotional Your career is very important. Eshuis: “De Hof is open to ‘damaged’ young people who, for example, have had a bad experience at another training company. There is a separate confidant who works with the managers and staff to look at personal Your career and supports guidance. This makes De Hof a warm place to learn.”
Mark Benneker Best Mentor
Mentor Mark Benneker from 't Kruisselt in De Lutte was also honoured at the Horecava. He went home with the title Best Mentor Hospitality 2022/2023. Eshuis mentioned Mark's humour, combined with the way he always strikes the right chord with different types of trainees. This makes him truly distinctive. Eshuis: “Mark makes the difference for trainees between dropping out or continuing, between passing or not passing. Not only in the team of 't Kruisselt but also nationally. 't Kruisselt is a very fine training company with a good team, with Mark as a top mentor.” The two other contenders for the title Best Mentor Hospitality 2022/2023 were Marisca Stam from 't Voorhuys in Emmeloord and Best Mentor Hospitality 2019/2020 Nita Huning-Koster from Het Noorden van Aalten.
This is how the Best Training Company is determined
Trainees, staff, and/or teachers nominate training companies. From these nominated training companies, a Top 10 of the best training companies is selected. The expert jury visited this Top 10 last year to get a complete picture. They also scrutinised the training plan and the vision on training. The results of these company visits were presented by the expert jury to the competition committee, after which the Top 3 was determined. The competition committee then visited the three training companies and assessed them. The competition committee consists of representatives from SVH, SBB, KHN, FNV hospitality, the MBO Raad, and previous winners Van der Valk Sassenheim-Leiden and 't Havenmantsje.
History of Best Training Company
For years, SVH has organised the Best Hospitality Training Company competition. The aim is to continue working with training companies on the very best practical training for new hospitality staff. And to encourage training companies to keep improving themselves. The Best Mentor Hospitality competition took place for the second time.
Previous winners Best Hospitality Training Company
- 2019/2020: 't Havenmantsje in Harlingen
- 2018/2019: Van der Valk Hotel Sassenheim-Leiden
- 2017/2018: Het Hooihuis in Roosendaal
- 2016: DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
- 2015: Vroeg in Bunnik
- 2014: Stempels Haarlem
- 2013: Hotel Greenside Texel
- 2012: McDonald’s Nederweert
- 2011: Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel
- 2010: Golden Tulip Tjaarda Oranjewoud
- 2009: Conferentiehotel Willibrordhaeghe
- 2008: Restaurant Smits Koffiehuis in Amsterdam
- 2007: Landgoed De Wilmersberg in De Lutte
Previous winners Best Mentor Hospitality
- 2019/2020: Nita Huning-Koster from Het Noorden van Aalten