Hitting The Mark – Silver Service Training
Polo & Tweed is in the business of service. From matching the perfect member of staff to the perfect employment, our clients expect our staff to have the very highest qualifications and skills. Candidates of all ages and backgrounds recognise the value of developing their skills and ensuring they stay up to date, whilst at the same time understanding traditional aspects of service. Silver Service is perhaps the most revered and historical form of high level service, used in 5* hotels, Michelin star restaurants and in private homes across the world. But what is Silver Service and why do people want to learn the art form?
Silver was first mined in 3000BC Anatolia (modern day Turkey), and historically has always been a valuable metal. Over the years as food and service became more civilised, Silverware was owned by the very wealthiest and aristocratic families. It was considered a valuable asset and would make up a portion of a families net worth as to the gold and silver they owned.
Why learn Silver Service?
If you are involved in any form of service, be it corporate or domestic, or if you have anyone in your employ that works around food, having the skills of Silver Service can take your dining experience to the next level. Many principals who already have staff in place want to ensure that their own dining experience and their dinner parties and events are conducted with the highest standard of service.
A member of staff, for example a Chef, Butler or Housekeeper, may be excellent at service in all other areas, but when asked to enter the dining room and serve the guests in the correct fashion they may not be properly trained. Improper dish placement, not knowing which side to serve from, or setting the table wrong are all common mistakes that lead to a less than perfect dining experience.
If you want your guests and your home to run like a 5* boutique, your staff need to have these skills. As a staff member, if you are hoping to climb the career ladder or work for discerning principals and high net worth families, it is vital you have the skills in Silver Service in order to obtain a level of excellence in the dining room.
How we teach silver service
Silver service courses are extremely hands on. Although we teach a great deal of theory and understanding, the art form is in the physicality itself. Therefore our training is extremely interactive and the participants will have a full prop experience to practice in a safe environment.
Although there are courses run around the world, our silver service course London based ensures that the highest level of training is obtained. After all London is home to some of the wealthiest and important people in the world, and the restaurants, hotels and dining experience reflect this level of quality.
The silver service training takes into account all the practical elements of silver service and also works through etiquette and problem solving. Students will become comfortable will all aspects of silver service including how to address and interact with guests at the dining table. We provide a safe environment for the participants to ask all the questions they need to ask so they can fully digest each lesson.
The Silver Service Modules
During training each student is given an overview of the modules before going into specifics. Table Management includes all the forms of service – Silver Service, Russian Service, Butler Service & Yacht Service. In the Wine and Champagne Service Module, students learn about wine pairing and how to mix the essential cocktails.
Tea and Coffee service is broken down, and afternoon tea service (which is completely different to after the meal) is also taught. For restaurant and hotel settings (and also domestic settings), guest interaction and etiquette is taught. This training includes service etiquette and address (how do you call a guest – by their title or their name), first impressions and body language.
Hierarchy and teamwork are another important piece of silver service training where our students learn how to work together with a larger staff. Canapes service and food hygiene is a module most students should know, but can be a great refresher. We also cover Glass and Silver polishing and napkin folding (in all different styles and shapes). To see a comprehensive list of training modules, visit our Silver Service Training page.
These modules are all taught during our open weekend courses. However, if you require to have a specific member of staff trained or if you are booking a private training, we can mix and match the modules to suit your needs.
When do the courses run?
The silver service training courses run throughout the year and you can read the next courses (and bookings we are taking) here. The courses run in London and are extremely popular. We also run private, one-to-one or group training specific to private homes, hotels, yachts or chalet needs. In private training we are able to consult with the client to understand exactly what skills they need improved on so we can devise a specific training programme for their staff.
Can you teach my member of staff in-situ?
Absolutely. This is a very popular request, as it means that the trainer attends the private home, hotel, chalet or yacht and trains the member of staff or the team in private. It gives the client complete control over the modules being taught. You can also just book to have a one-to-one session with a trainer directly if you can’t attend our open courses.
By working in-situ the staff are working in the environment they will be expected to perform in. In our experience, this has proven to have even higher results in the quality and experience of the training. It is money well invested as the staff skills improve and the principal and his guests are delighted and entertained.
What do students get at the end of the course?
At the end of the silver service training London courses all students receive a Polo & Tweed certification. We are working to have accreditation with a formal college system, however until that time, the Polo & Tweed certificate is recognised globally as a very high standard of training. Almost all our students and participants come to us by word of mouth. That means we are doing the training well and hitting the mark each time. The proof is in the pudding!
So if you’d like to know more about our open courses or indeed our private courses, then please do drop us a line, tell us what your needs are and we will be delighted to advise you onto your steps to becoming an advanced practitioner of Silver Service!