By
Rebecca Gibson |
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
If you want to recruit the best people for cruise cuisine, why not just train them yourself? That’s what OSM Maritime Group (OSM) ended up doing when it entered the cruise sector in 2016. OSM decided to develop a tailor-made training programme for onboard catering personnel.
By establishing the OSM Hospitality & Catering Academy, where chefs and catering staff are educated to the highest standards, OSM assumed full control of the level of competencies and skills required for delivering exquisite cruise cuisine. This also helped OSM to achieve the operational excellence that characterises its asset management services.
Keen on developing its new position in the cruise segment, OSM was convinced that its success would rely on its ability to connect with the best people in the various catering fields. Although OSM had 25 years of experience of providing competent crew to various customers, the company adjusted its recruitment process to ensure it could meet the needs of cruise clients.
“The cruise industry expects a five-star experience and that is why OSM collaborates with the best,” explains Tommy Olofsen, managing director for OSM Crew Management. “It is crucial that the catering and hospitality teams share a common mindset when it comes to skills, service and quality. A dedicated screening group helped us select the candidates capable of delivering the kind of extraordinary service we were looking for.”
Once accepted into the academy, candidates participate in a comprehensive programme where factors such as attitude and mindset are evaluated. On-the-job training is organised in cooperation with a five-star hotel to further refine each student’s understanding of culinary perfection and hospitality excellence.
OSM’s approach towards recruiting the perfect crew proved to be successful, according to Olofsen. In total 98% of candidates from the academy were accepted by Norway-based operator Hurtigruten to provide culinary services on its ship Midnatsol.
“OSM’s Catering Academy has played a major role in our success with customers like Hurtigruten,” says Geir Ranneberg Nilsen, head of Cruise Service Management at OSM.
Although recruiting the best people can be difficult, the real challenge is often to keep them. High turnover can easily destabilise a well composed team. However, the retention rate is usually high at OSM.
“Our people onboard demonstrate quality, commitment and willingness to take on a challenge and master it elegantly,” says Olofsen. “These are key elements for developing professional pride, which in turn, is essential for keeping people onboard with OSM. The company’s programmes for extended healthcare, medical support and career planning benefit both the seafarer and their family, reassuring them that OSM is a safe haven.”