WORKFORCE INITIATIVES
Hospitality Ohio is invested in supporting educational and developmental strategies to better prepare a skilled workforce for the foodservice and hospitality industries. Since 2000, we have excelled at connecting people to rewarding career opportunities.
Hundreds of different career options are available, from chefs, servers, management personnel, bartenders, pastry chefs, purchasing, banquet and catering, to supervisors, accountants, suppliers, farmers, truck drivers, marketing specialists, IT, HR as well as president/CEO.
Apprenticeship is Hospitality's Newest Secret Sauce
In collaboration with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), Hospitality Ohio is promoting apprenticeship opportunities to help grow your team. Apprenticeships are available for Line Cook, Assistant Kitchen Manager, Kitchen Manager, Assistant Restaurant Manger, and Restaurant Manager positions. Training is available to employers and their apprentices at no cost.
Apprentices complete their related training instruction course through online, independent study. The NRAEF provides access to Train-the Trainer course which assists with develops effective communicators. mentors and adult educators in the workplace.
Apprentices receive certificates of completion from NRAEF and the Department of Labor as well as earn nationally recognized credentials including ServSafe.
The term of apprenticeship can range from one to two years depending on the occupation with a minimum requirement of six months. All courses are available online. Employer benefits to apprenticeship include reduce turnover, improve productivity, and address skill gaps. Apprenticeships can provide a game-changing opportunity especially for small to medium-sized businesses.
Attend an upcoming webinar to learn more here. If unable to attend any of the webinars, please still register as a recording will be sent to view at your leisure.
Restaurant Ready
Restaurant Ready is a highly successful, collaborative work-readiness training program that helps individuals who have faced barriers to employment - ranging from justice-involved, differently-abled populations to past addiction - prepare for careers. Restaurant Ready participants represent diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
This training program is competency based with interactive adaptable materials which engage, inform and prepare individuals for a hospitality career. There is no cost to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to offer this training to your participants.
If interested, the next informational webinar for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) will be August 13 from 3:00 - 4:00 pm.
Register here here.
Interested community-based organizations, please contact INFO@ORAEF.ORG.
HOPES Pathway Home 6 Grant
Exciting news as Hospitality Ohio in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) was recently awarded the Pathway Home 6 grant to enable its work with justice involved citizens to continue in Ohio. This grant will focus on adults who are between 20 and 270 days of their release date. Candidate and employment focus will be Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.
The HOPES Ohio team will include the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry and Hospitality Ohio. Once participants have been identified and meet the eligibility requirements they will continue to receive support services and engage in occupational training post-release, leading to employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the restaurant/foodservice/hospitality industry.
There will be an initial planning phase as program implementation will not begin until Late Q1 of 2026. This opportunity is part of an U.S. Department of Labor grant.
The foodservice and hospitality industries, comprised primarily of restaurants, is a driving force in Ohio’s economy. It provides jobs, builds careers, and plays a vital role in communities throughout the state.
The foodservice and hospitality industries provide:
• flexible workhours
• rapid advancement
• training
• diversity
• team environment
• workplace variety
There are countless stories of people starting at entry level positions and working their way up into positions of additional responsibility and increased pay. It almost happens daily! With passion, flexibility, dependability and a willingness to learn you can be the next success story.
HOSPITALITY
Who, What & Why
The restaurant industry is home to entrepreneurship and job opportunities, with a path to success for everyone of all ethnicities and backgrounds. With a little training, you can take your skills and work anywhere in the world. If you are a people person, enjoy being part of a team, are customer service focused, and love food, explore your career options.
HOPES Pathway Home 4 Grant
Hospitality Institute of Ohio partnered with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) launched HOPES (Hospitality Opportunities for People (re)Entering Society) Pathway Home 4 grant to train and prepare justice-involved individuals for jobs and careers in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industries in Central Ohio.
Hospitality Ohio utilized the NRAEF training framework to collaborate with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and Alvis. This program was part of an U.S. Department of Labor grant.
HOPES helps justice-involved individuals gain industry-specific skills, facilitates career exploration, and addresses barriers to sustained employment, with the ultimate goal of increasing employment opportunities and reducing recidivism. Participants were required to complete the training and achieve at least one industry credential to successfully graduate from the program. The HOPES candidates are seeking employment, with employers in Franklin County. Over 100 candidates participated in the program with over 70% securing employment and achieving their credentials.
The hospitality industry is well-suited to offering justice-involved individuals a fresh start. It has a long history of being both a first job opportunity as well as offering second chances to people from all backgrounds.
Why the Restaurant, Foodservice & Hospitality Industry?
Careers are accessible, diverse, and opportunity-rich. Restaurant, foodservice and hospitality careers often do not require a high school diploma, GED, licensure or certification to get started.
Restaurants employ more minority managers than any other industry and 90% of all restaurant managers started in entry-level positions.
Restaurants need a well-trained workforce and employers are looking for qualified staff familiar with new health and hygiene guidelines, HOPES participants receive ServSafe training which is widely recognized and fulfills many local requirements.
Training & Employment Partners
The HOPES program works with justice involved employers who are dedicated to meeting employees where they are at in their life and career stage. Employers are able to provide training, skill development, positive feedback and an opportunity for success. Justice restored candidates are eager to work, learn and better themselves. Some will even have industry experience. For additional information, please contact INFO@ORAEF.org.
Federal Bonding Program
Bonds are available free-of-charge to employers who hire applicants that have had "risk" factors in their personal background.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available to employers. It is designed to encourage employers to hire individuals from certain target groups including veterans, ex-offenders, long-term unemployed and summer youth, among others.
Nationally, the restaurant industry employs 15 million people,
1 in 10 working individuals.
For some, it is their first job and others their chosen career. The restaurant industry offers a path to success for men and women of all ethnicities and backgrounds.
Career Development for the Restaurant Industry
As an employer, you know firsthand how difficult finding the right staff is and sometimes it can be even more difficult to keep them. To help employers retain and enhance the skill level of existing staff members, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) launched the ServSuccess program.
The program features:
• Professional Certifications
• Online Learning Suites
• Interactive Study Guide
ServSuccess provides training that will advance your current staff’s careers while providing them the skills to increase their job performance as well.
THREE CAREER LEVELS ARE AVAILABLE:
PROFESSIONAL
Certified Restaurant Professional
-Front-of-the-House Service and Communication
-Front-of-the- House Basic Operations
-Back-of-the-House Pre-Production
-Basic Business Production
-Basic Business Operations
SUPERVISOR
Certified Restaurant Supervisor
-Managing Daily Operations
-Leadership & Communication
-Safety & Regulations
-Cost Control Fundamentals
-Controlling Costs
MANAGER
Certified Restaurant Manager
-Fundamentals of Financial Management
-Understanding Financial Performance
-The Purchasing Process
-Controlling Operational Costs
-Managing the Employment Process
-Fundamentals of Employee Performance
-The Marketing Process Marketing your Operation
Disclaimer: HOPES Pathways Home is 100% funded through a $4 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This webpage was created by Hospitality Institute of Ohio and does not necessarily reflect the
official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This webpage content is copyrighted by Hospitality Institute of Ohio.
