On Thursday, 10 November 2022, SVH (Stichting Vakbekwaamheid hospitality) announced the Top 10 of the Best Hospitality Training Company competition. For this competition, which skipped two editions due to the pandemic, over 100 training companies were nominated this year. Until Sunday, 6 November, nominated training companies could complete assignments and score points to reach the first milestone of the competition: the Top 10 best training companies in the Netherlands. With the announcement of the Top 10, the first phase of the competition has concluded, and in December it will be known which of these training companies have made it to the Top 3.
The competition, organised by SVH on behalf of the hospitality sector, began in early September with the nomination round. Mentors, students, pupils, teachers, and staff from the hospitality industry could nominate their favourite training companies for the coveted title during this round. Nominated training companies then completed assignments to demonstrate why they deserve the title. The Best Hospitality Training Company competition committee congratulates all nominated training companies. A nomination for this title is a token of appreciation towards the training company. A remarkable achievement that the entire company can be very proud of.
The training environment, the involvement of the training company with the student, and the vision on training are points on which the training companies are assessed during the first round of the competition. A video pitch, the training plan, and a testimonial from a student are important components. Additionally, training companies could score extra points with bonus assignments by, among other things, creatively urging their network to vote for them. The points from all these assignments together determined the training company's position in the ranking.
This is the Top 10 of the 2022/2023 edition in alphabetical order:
- De Hof, Renswoude
- De Werf, Veere
- ’t Kruisselt, De Lutte
- Nakal, Meijel
- Nederheide, Milheeze
- ’t Noorden, Aalten
- Ron Gastrobar, Amsterdam
- TerSpegelt, Eersel
- The Lemon Tree, Deventer
- ’t Voorhuys, Emmeloord
The competition committee is impressed by the number of companies that, in these challenging times for the sector, give learning on the job a prominent place in the company. Ricardo Eshuis, director of SVH and chairman of the competition committee, said: “We notice that training companies participating in the competition often already have an incredibly good training environment and are highly involved with their students. We see this reflected in the training plans, where there is much focus on personal Your career and growth of the student. We also see some familiar faces returning in the Top 10. These companies continue to develop themselves further as training companies and therefore stand out positively in the competition again this year.”
Further competition progress
The training companies from the Top 10 will be visited this month by a committee member of the competition. This is to get a good impression of the training company. Additionally, the committee member will talk to students and mentors during the visit about the implementation of the training plans and the training vision.
The experiences of the committee members are discussed in the full competition committee, consisting of representatives from SVH, SBB, KHN, FNV hospitality, the MBO Raad, and previous winners of the competition Van der Valk Sassenheim-Leiden and ’t Havenmantsje. Based on the top 10 ranking and the experiences of the committee members with the training companies, the competition committee determines which three training companies will reach a place in the final.
We are also looking for: the best mentor
The role of the mentor is being highlighted again this year: they have a chance to win the title of Best Hospitality Mentor 2022/2023. The best mentor comes into view during the committee visit to the training companies that reach the Top 10 of the Best Hospitality Training Company competition. It is not surprising that the best mentors often work at one of these top training companies. These training companies realise how valuable the mentor is and therefore invest in their skills. Training applies not only to students; the mentor themselves is never done learning. The best mentors take the time and space to bring out the best in both themselves and their students.
Winner 2022/2023
The winning training company and the winning mentor will be announced during the final at the Horecava in 2023. This training company will not only hold the title of Best Hospitality Training Company 2022/2023 for a year but will also win the award with an accompanying wall plaque. Additionally, they may spend a day with an SVH Master of their choice, including a wonderfully catered lunch, and they will receive a tailor-made academy full of new e-learnings from SVH.
Why this competition is so important
The parties sitting together in the competition committee all see the importance of training on the job and support companies to improve students and other employees through guidance and training. The goal of the competition aligns well with their vision and goals, ranging from a safe learning and working environment to increasing professional competence in the industry as a whole and of individual employees in particular. “Training companies and good mentors are of great importance to achieve this goal. For a student gaining their first experience as a hospitality employee, they can make a significant difference. They have a role model function and also leave an important mark on the skills and attitude of the student towards the hospitality profession. Good mentors and training companies are therefore indispensable for training a new generation. That is why SVH organises this competition on behalf of the sector,” said Eshuis.
View the full list of recognised training companies nominated for the title of Best Hospitality Training Company 2022/2023 at www.besteleerbedrijfhoreca.nl/ranking
For more information about the competition, visit www.besteleerbedrijfhoreca.nl
Previous winners of Best Hospitality Training Company
2022/2023: ?
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 of Best Hospitality Mentor
2022/2023: ?
2019/2020: Nita Huning-Koster from 't Noorden in Aalten
The 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 editions could not take place due to the prevailing corona measures at that time.