Futura Training - Latest News

Mondriaan is a leading Hospitality College in the Netherlands, located in The Hague. Olaf Weissman and Remco Beekink scoured the globe for the best competency-based Hospitality resources. During a meeting in September, Reinhold Forster, CEO of Futura Training, was able to explain the range of Hospitality resources to Mondriaan’s staff.

Olaf and Remco expressed their satisfaction with our interactive resources and the outcome-focussed approach for learners. As Olaf pointed out “English is the key language in the Hospitality industry and Futura Training resources display an international focus on excellence, quality and continuous improvement. This will allow us to use the resources effectively and couple it with the industry experience of our trainers for a complete package!”

Christine Rumble, National Director, Learning & Development Head of Academie Accor and Graham Staples, Managing Director Futura Training, recently signed a Global agreement to use Futura Training online.

Christine Rumble said “We have been speaking with Futura for some time now and we are impressed with the Futura products, as well as the company’s continuous improvement programme. The products fit well with our dedication to staff training and excellence. We look forward to a long and successful association between our two companies.”

Futura Training have been filming for the new Cookery Series 5, due for release in 2011.

Joining Reinhold Forster in the kitchen was Andrew Fielke, Chairman of Australian Native Food Industry Limited (ANFIL), the peak national body which represents all interests in the rapidly growing Australian native food industry. Andrew is an award-winning Adelaide chef with over 33 years international experience including Switzerland, Austria and London’s Savoy Hotel and is recognised as one of the early pioneers of an emerging native Australian Cuisine style .

Peter Howard, one of Australia's most recognised and passionate food and wine commentators, with a growing international reputation as both a presenter and consultant on food, wine and tourism, also contributed to the array of native recipes prepared.

Together, Reinhold, Andrew and Peter shared their expertise and the results were sensational. The recipes cooked were certainly mouth watering and will also be featured on the ANFIL website. Some examples were: Oysters with Kakadu Plum “Vinaigrette”, Whole Chicken Steeped in Lemon Aspen Tom Yum, Steamed Quandong Macadamia Pudding with Roast Macadamia & Quandong Ripple Ice Cream

Futura Training are thrilled to announce that we were named a Finalist, for the fourth year in a row at the Hunter Business Awards in the category of Small Business Excellence.

This acknowledgement reflects Futura Training’s reputation in providing high quality education and training resources to the domestic and international markets in the hospitality and foodservices industry.

Futura Training held a stand at Restaurant 09 in Melbourne from 17-18 June 2009.

As in previous years, our presence was successful.

Educational Consultants, Wolf Bechteler (based in Queensland) and Nadine Bryce (based in Victoria) joined our Managing Director, Graham Staples who demonstrated Futura Training resources.

There was a strong flow of people and numerous orders were taken.

  

Futura Training was pleased to provide four Encouragement Awards for Sunraysia Institute of TAFE’s, ‘Chefs of the Future’ 2009 Competition for:
 
Chris Box – Certificate 3 Commercial Cookery 1st year apprentice Mushroom prize winner
Trevor Davey – Certificate 3 Commercial Cookery non-apprentice 3rd place
Tamara Marshall – Certificate 3 Commercial Cookery 2nd year apprentice runner up
Rhys Ford – Certificate 3 Commercial Cookery 2nd year winner
 
The competition provides an opportunity for apprentice chefs from Sunraysia, surrounding and outlying regions to showcase their skills and talents.

 

In memory of the late Brigita Whiting, Cookery Lecturer  of TAFE SA Adelaide City Campus, Futura Training initiated The Brigita Whiting Encouragement Award. 

Futura donated a perpetual trophy to TAFE SA Adelaide City Campus and resources with the Award.

Brigita's husband Antony presented the award on our behalf to the recipient, Ann Liotta  and he spoke of Brigita and her start in cookery.

Gail Vort-Ronald Lecturer - Hospitality Studies TAFE SA Adelaide City Campus commented, “Thank you so much once again for supporting the memory of our wonderful Brigita.”

On Wednesday 1 April, Managing Director Graham Staples attended the annual Northern Beaches TAFE College Hospitality Students Award presentation.

Futura Training donated some encouragement awards to show their commitment to the students.

Graham said “It was a pleasure to see such inspired students graduating from Brookvale with such high qualifications in Hospitality.”

Tourism Training Australia announced on 13 May the recipients of the National Tourism Legends Awards 2009.  Futura Training CEO, Reinhold Forster, was among the recipients who were rewarded for their dedication and efforts supporting Training and Human Resource Development across the nation.

Ted Wright AM, Chairman, Tourism Training Australia said:

“These special awards recognise outstanding leadership contributions by the recipients to the future development of Tourism and Hospitality training across the nation.  They are true nation leaders.”
He added, “Our industry appreciates these significant contributions."

Congratulations Reinhold!

  

Our Managing Director, Graham Staples made presentations of our interactive hospitality resources to trainers, lecturers and students at the International College of Management Sydney in March 2009.

Both groups were very impressed by the hospitality teaching resources and will be using the Cookery, Operations and F&B Series. 

Chris Harris, Head of Hospitality Program, International College of Management saw the brand new learning resources for Accommodation Services and commented:

“This resource focuses not only on the operational skills required, but also on the role that we all play in guest satisfaction. The interactive components clearly show the learner what is expected in industry. This resource will be used by my excellent lecturers in conjunction with our own proven practical and theoretical training regime to support our students' studies and help those students to become job-ready, professional Hospitality workers now and managers later!”

 

Futura Training has moved to new premises in Steel River, Newcastle.

Our new details are:

Our Street Address is:              13 Spit Island Close, Mayfield West  2304
Postal (remains the same):     PO Box 185 LAMBTON NSW 2299
New Phone Number:                 02 4967 7212
New Fax Number:                      02 4967 7606

Futura Training is proud to offer Hospitality resources for Certificate 2  in Hospitality. Our resources were specifically developed for the SIT07 training package and cover Kitchen Operations, Food and Beverage Service and Accommodation Services. In addition, we provide teaching support tools for each and every unit of competency that our resources cover.

 

For more information on High School Solutions, please click here.

Futura Training resources were officially launched by the governor of Tamil Nadhu in Chennai. The governor congratulated Sid Rajkumar of the Madras Institute of Hotel Management  and Catering Technology for his vision to use this revolutionary concept in hospitality training.

Futura Training wishes to express our sorrow over the tragic events unfolding in Victoria. We extend our sympathies to all those affected by the fires, not least those who are our clients and colleagues. We wish to praise the brave men and women who are fighting to protect life and property across the state, as well as the people of the community who have banded together to support one another.

We hope that the money donated to the Red Cross by our staff and business will go some way to helping rebuild shattered lives. We encourage anyone who can to help out however they can. Money can be donated to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and through any of the major banks. Blood donations will also be needed to help burns victims.

The last day of work for the Futura Team was not only fun, but very productive.

An “out of uniform” day and numerous fundraising games helped to raise $725.00 for the Soul Cafe, soup kitchen.

 

Due to business growth and additional storage requirements (just think of all the new Advanced Diploma books) we are moving to Spit Island Close on the Steel River site in Newcastle. The warehouse will be moving on the 12th December and the offices will follow in February. We look forward to a bit more office space and the open plan arrangement will get our creative juices flowing even more! So watch this space!

Many thanks to all the FUTURA TEAM for your warm support, Special thank you to Wolfgang Bechteler

Have a happy New Year all the very best for 09 will catch up in the new year

Thanks

Greg Mai

Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE

Dear Futura Training, Just writing to thank you for your fast and excellent service, it is really great to have access to easy to deal with Hospitality textbook suppliers, it has taken a lot of stress off me for next year.

I hope that all the staff have a safe and happy holiday.

Thank you again for everything

GaylEne Turri

With the completion of the Advanced Diploma resources, Futura Training has become a one-stop shop solution for interactive hospitality training resources. Whether you require resources for F&B or cookery, supervisory subjects or food hygiene we can assist you with your training needs! The latest project that we are working on is resources for Accommodation Services, due for release in July 09. We are also planning for the new version of the operational subjects for the end of 2010. It never gets boring around here!

Aaron Lucas the cookery lecturer at Guilford Young College in Tasmania decided that the newly refurbished kitchen deserves the best cookery resources available. He came to Futura Training in order to get the best outcomes for his High School students through using our student-focussed cookery resources. During the workshop for his team he stated: “These Hospitality resources are ideal for the secondary sector students as they bring the industry realism and the kids can see what is expected as industry standard”.

Anton Horvat, the Hospitality program leader from Swinburne University, has just placed an order for the new Advanced Diploma of Hospitality resources. He says: “We have been using the Futura Training Hospitality resources in our operational subjects for several years and the students just love them. The new Advanced Diploma resources look really exciting and the hands-on approach to management subjects and industry problems will certainly engage the students. Futura Training continually come up with very innovative solutions, as well as providing great support for teachers. I look forward to using these in the workplace as well.”

Gary Slicer at Drysdale Institute looks forward to using the new Advanced Diploma resources. He feels that they are the ideal tool for on-the-job training as this is where the real industry training occurs. He says: “The realism of the resources within the virtual hotel will provide excellent context for the learners”.

The new Manager’s Guide to Hospitality series is available now, order your Hospitality management resources today!

Futura Training was invited to present at the Collaborate, Update, Educate Symposium of the Teaching and Learning Network TAFE Queensland. Wolf Bechteler and Reinhold Forster presented two workshops and enjoyed the 70’s party at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe. The new Hospitality resources for the SIT07 training package were particularly well received.

The Chandiwala Hospitality Ensemble is a major hospitality competition conducted by Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management in New Delhi. The principal, Mr R K Bhandari, was so impressed with the cookery resources he referred to them as “Brahmastra” (the ultimate weapon) of resources for the teacher. He stated he had “never encountered anything like it in all of my 24 years of being in the industry.” Strong interest was expressed by a number of colleges, who are looking to use the Hospitality resources within their institutes.

In the last two years we have defined our role as a corporate citizen and embedded the goals into our business plan. Some of our approaches to minimising our impact on the environment and giving back to the community are:

• Created role of “environmental guardian” within the company
• Reduced use of energy in office through a range of measures
• Introduced a recycling program in an industrial complex with no recycling facilities
•  Partnered with a local charity which supports and employs people with disabilities to institute recycling program
• Reducing air travel through the use of internet-based communications
• Use sustainable practices wherever possible to minimise impact – reuse of note paper, reusing packaging materials etc
• Exploring and implementing options for off-setting unavoidable emissions e.g. printing, necessary air travel
• Determining financial impacts of environmental processes upon the business now and in the future e.g. carbon trading etc.
• Incorporating environmental messages into the resources where appropriate to increase awareness of environmental issues in the workplace amongst the students
• Encouraging our staff to implement environmentally friendly practices outside of work such as car pooling and cycling. Providing facilities such as showers also encourages the staff to cycle to work
• Using high rating energy devices that will reduce energy and water use
•  Purchasing recycled papers for office use and also maximising print facilities such us double sided printing and limited use of coloured inks
• Designing on-screen promotional material, instead of printed promotional material, where possible

Futura Training’s Hospitality resources are being piloted for use in the English VET sector. The reputable New College in Nottingham has decided to trial commercial cookery resources as part of a pilot scheme for introducing new, interactive methods of learning.

Adrian Pratt, Curriculum Director for Lifestyles, New College, Nottingham comments:

“Following an excellent presentation from Futura Training in August 2008 we took the decision to pilot Futura Training’s contemporary multimedia teaching, training and learning resources for commercial cookery, with learners who are following our NVQ Multi-skilled Hospitality programmes.

Initial feedback on the Series 3 CD/book packages of Hospitality learning resources is very positive. Staff are developing greater confidence in using a wider range of teaching, training and learning strategies; and the resources are helping learners generate and take more control of their own learning targets.”

Futura Training was the principal sponsor of the Victorian Tourism and Hospitality Educators Network conference 2008. The Green theme of the conference fitted in well with Futura Training’s philosophy and commitment towards environmental consideration taken within their Hospitality resources. Reinhold Forster, CEO, presented a paper titled:

“Conserving the Industry, Jobs and the Environment. Greener approaches through Multimedia Education in the Advanced Diploma”

Futura Training are pleased to announce that we were a Finalist for the third year in a row at the Hunter Business Awards in the category of Small Business Excellence.  This was acknowledgement of Futura’s steady growth in providing essential education and training resources to the domestic and international markets in the growing hospitality and foodservices industry.
 
The Awards were held at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley on Friday 1 August 2008.

Futura Training was proud to support the Annual Presentation at the South Western Sydney Institute on Monday 16 June 2008.
 
Graham Staples, the Managing Director attended and presented Awards.

Futura Training has won the Education and Training category of the MAP Marketing Fastest Growing Awards which recognise businesses with growing turnover across 22 industry categories.

The win was acknowledgement of Futura’s steady growth in providing essential education and training resources to the country’s growing hospitality and food services industry.

Click here to read the media release

Futura Training will be attending Restaurant 08 in Sydney on the 11th and 12th of August. Come and meet Ed Halmagyi- Better Homes & Gardens (first day only) and the Futura team on stand F18 who will be demonstrating the new Series 3, fully interactive, full colour culinary resource along with their brand new Series 4 Food & Beverage books and CD’s showing the new virtual restaurant and bar.

Visit the Restaurant '08 website

Marcus Gildon -  Head Chef Commercial Cookery and Catering Services, Meridian International Hotel School, Melbourne said.

“Our students really engage with the Futura Training resources, information is easy to follow and the instructional videos and interactive quizzes really provide that extra dimension to the learning process.

I know that our students and teachers both benefit greatly from using the Futura resource and the after sales support given by the Futura team is excellent in helping us maximize the books and CD’s.”

Reinhold Forster, CEO & Graham Staples, Managing Director recently visited the UK and served up training resource options at the Food & Drink Forum, Nottingham to 18 delegates from a good cross section in education. Interest was very positive and good contacts were made which will be followed up by another visit from Graham Staples in August 2008.

"I was impressed with the attention to detail and strong learner focus," commented Lynette Chettle, Partnership Manager at the Learning and Skills Council, Nottinghamshire. "Students are fully in charge of their learning, and this modern approach is certainly worth exploring. Teachers will love this, as everything is there, so no need to reinvent the wheel."

       Reinhold Forster presenting Futura Training at the Food & Drink Forum

Graham Staples chatting to Joanne Atkinson, Project Manager for Charnwood Training
Consultants centre, and to the right Lynette Chettle Learning skills Council (LSC) for
Nottinghamshire

Futura Training resources are now used by The Corporate-Academy in both Singapore and the Philippines.
 
Suresh Pillay – Assoc. Director of Quality Assurance, The Corporate-Academy, Singapore said,

"The Corporate-Academy considered numerous training packages before deciding to use Futura Training resources. Futura was an easy choice for us to make for its comprehensive and interactive content at a competitive cost. We are very excited by the prospect of using the Futura Training packages and utilising the benefits it will bring to our students and The Corporate-Academy in both Singapore, the Philippines, and beyond in the near future."

Futura Training has recently been acknowledged in a leading Culinary Trade Magazine 'Food Companion International', the magazine read by chefs & epicureans.

Click here to read the article in PDF format.

Futura Training received its largest shipment of stock to date, illustrating the increasing demand for Futura Training products. In 2007 Futura gained a number of new contracts with RTOs across the country and abroad. Futura's growing popularity allows the company to continue to make a positive impact on the hospitality training industry.

Our Hospitality learning resources are ready to ship when you order. No need to wait for those crucial SIT07 resources when you need them now! Enquire today about our commercial cookery resources, food and beverage resources and our brand new hospitality management resources, all written for the SIT07 training package.

London's established food writers and the ultimate peer accolade, the Craft Guild of Chefs, anointed The Ledbury London's best new restaurant.

Head chef Brett Graham (a former student of Reinhold Forster, CEO Futura Training) says he prefers to hire Australian staff, and seven of his 13-member team are Australian.

"I think Australian chefs really do have better training, because of the four-year apprenticeship system," he said. "Classical cooking is still such a basis for everything. But people over here go to some crap college where they just get to look at a plastic crab or something and then they're pushed out into the trade. You wouldn't believe how many chefs can't even make an anglaise."

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Online

Futura Training is proud to announce their first client in India. Siddharth Rajkumar signed a service agreement for Madras Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology. The institute will use the Futura Training resources for delivery and assessment.

Siddharth is excited to use the interactive resources to provide a modern approach to hospitality education in India.

"As a Chef who holds a diploma from the Swiss School of Hotel Management in hospitality, Chur, Switzerland and qualified at Newcastle TAFE NSW with the early Futura Training Books & CD's I had no hesitation in choosing Futura Training for my school in Madras, India.

Our students immediately engage with the resource, learning becomes exciting for both student and teacher, the content is concise, clear and easy to follow.

Students especially enjoy the videos, quizzes and the culinary terms which have voice pronunciation. It's just brilliant!"

Futura would like to congratulate Marion Fitzpatrick on her success at winning the National Trade Teacher of the Year award. We would also like to thank Marion for incorporating Futura Resources into the training provisions at the Northern Sydney TAFE in Ryde. 

For more information about Marion Fitzpatrick and the award click here.

Listen to an interview on ABC in regards to the National Skill Shortage

      www.tafensw.edu.au

Brett Graham, Head Chef, The Ledbury London named as one of the five hottest young London Chefs, London Evening Standard 05.09.07

The 27-year-old Australian Chef was asked to head The Ledbury’s kitchen while Chefing at The Square in Bruton Street, London. He was awarded a Michelin star nine months after opening in 2005.

Brett was trained at Hunter Institute of TAFE, in Newcastle, NSW under tutelage of Reinhold Forster, CEO Futura Training.

Graham Staples, MD Futura Training, recently meet with Brett whilst in London and Brett gave the following quote regarding Futura Training.

“I am amazed at how far Reinhold has taken the Futura Training books and CD’s. I wish they had been around when I was training. They are so easy to follow for both the student and teacher. I will be encouraging my trainees and young Chefs to purchase the series as they will be invaluable as an in-house training resource. It makes my life easier if, for instance, I can say to my young Chefs: “Tomorrow we are going to make Hollandaise sauce, so check out the recipe and the video in the Futura book and CD”. I can then be sure they have refreshed their knowledge before they begin the work.”

         www.timeout.com

Once again Futura Training has been recognised by being nominated as a finalist in the MAP awards.  The MAP awards are given to the fastest growing companies in the Hunter Region.  This reflects positively on the quality of Futura Training products. 

Restaurant '07 was a great success for Futura Training.  It was encouraging to see such a positive response to the resources from all facets of the hospitality industry.  On more than one occasion the Futura booth was approached by students asking why they weren't using Futura Training resources at their institutes. 

For the second year running, Futura Training has been nominated as Finalist in the Hunter Business Chamber Awards. 

Futura Training will be exhibiting at Restaurant 07, the dedicated event for the industry professional. 

The event will be held at the Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park, Sydney on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th August.

Futura Training features in Catering Tourism Hospitality - the official publication of the Tourism, Hospitality and Catering Institute of Australia. 

Futura Training is a major sponsor of Tourism Training Australia 2007 conference.                                                                                                           

 

  Greg Francis from the Carrick Institute of Education is delighted to inform that:

"Futura Training is sponsoring the Carrick Institute of Education culinary competition in September 2007. This competition will select top performing students from our Melbourne campus to compete in a live cook off. The competition aims to reward excellence in training and provide goals for all students to perform at their highest level. We are really excited to have Futura Training as our Gold sponsor for this event."

Reinhold Forster was invited to present at the New Zealand hospitality educators conference with the focus on multimedia in hospitality education.

Release of the new Series 3 product Title 3 - Vegetables, Fruit, Eggs, and Farinaceous & Prepare and Cook Seafood and Title 4 - Select, Prepare and Cook Meat, Poultry and Game of the culinary series have been updated and include the following:

• Full colour book with additional in-depth information from specialists such as MLA and MSA
• Mapping against the latest competency standards
• Improved interactive components, design and toolbox

Northern Sydney Institute Ryde campus receives awards for quality improvement utilising Futura Training resources and support.

Marion Fitzpatrick Head Teacher Commercial Cookery states:

"The students respond really well to the materials and are in charge of their own learning. Our team has made a fantastic improvement with compliance and Futura Training is always there to assist when needed."

Futura Training has signed an agreement with TAFE Queensland to provide hospitality resources for the Institutes. The feedback from students and teachers has been extremely positive. Alan Parker from Gold Coast Institute of TAFE says:

"It is amazing how much more the students learn. The resources extend the academic achievement and the completion of the hiccups and tasks, the work sheets and interactive recipes help them to achieve at a much higher level."