40 operators and employers in the night-time economy have agreed to develop a set of principles that will support and improve practices for night-time workers and operators in Greater Manchester.
The move is a step forward for workers in the city-region, and is the first operators standard of its kind in the UK.
The five principles take account of tipping, training and mental health, consulting staff on practices and ensuring the workplace is a trusted environment.
The voluntary initiative follows two successful listening exercises hosted by night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord, where concerns on tipping, mental health and transport were raised and discussed.
The employers, who met today, will develop the vision for the operators standard over the next couple of months.
“The workers in our restaurants, bars, hotels, and clubs are the welcoming face of Greater Manchester’s night-time economy,” said Sacha Lord. “We know what a wonderful job they do, and we want customers to be confident that when they reward great service, that reward goes to the right place.
“We also understand that Greater Manchester’s cultural and leisure offer (as well as the retail sector and infrastructure supporting this) account for around 44% of employment in the night-time economy, so it’s important that people see a career in this industry as rewarding, safe, supported and viable.
“The fact that so many operators are dedicated to developing the principles, demonstrates our city-region’s commitment to ensuring that our welcome continues to be world-class, warm and distinctly Greater Mancunian.”
If you would like more information, or would like to be involved, please email [email protected]