RSPB staff to welcome visitors to Morecambe Bay

Staff and volunteers at the RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve undertook the ‘Welcome to Morecambe Bay’ course, a bespoke customer service training programme

Many of its customer-facing team successfully complete the one-day session, helping to build the reputation of Morecambe Bay as a world class visitor destination that excels in customer service.

Anya Kuliszewski, visitor experience intern, said: “We wanted to improve the quality of customer service as a first point of contact on reception or in the cafe and to learn more about how we fit into Morecambe Bay as a visitor destination. The training has made us look at the value of feedback as well as the importance of advertising the Morecambe Bay area.”

The course was developed by the Morecambe Bay Partnership and is delivered by The Via Partnership, specialists in professional development training who deliver Welcome to Excellence programmes in the north west.

Funded from the Morecambe Bay Partnership’s Coastal Communities 700 Days to Transform the Bay and the Headlands to Headspace Heritage Lottery programmes, the initiative is also backed by Marketing Lancashire and Cumbria Tourism.

Welcome to Morecambe Bay training has been designed to make sure we can all give a wonderful warm welcome to our visitors to Morecambe Bay and tell them about all the amazing things they can see and do on their visit.

Karen O’Donoghue, of The Via Partnership said: “Via’s core purpose is to improve skills and increase employability throughout Lancashire. We are delighted to offer this bespoke training which supports employees, local business and the community. The Welcome to Morecambe Bay course and the customer-facing skills of teams such as those at RSPB Leighton Moss, will help sustain and grow visitor numbers to Morecambe for years to come.”

Susannah Bleakley, executive director, The Morecambe Bay Partnership said: "Together we have produced a great new course to improve the visitor welcome and raise awareness about what a fascinating place Morecambe Bay is - from its vast intertidal seascapes to limestone crags, historic towns and villages, to its lovely trails and cycle routes. There is something for everyone. We want our visitors to get the best possible welcome and our businesses to be effective at selling the Bay."

As businesses promote the incredible natural environment and cultural heritage on offer in the area through providing the highest levels of customer service and increased product knowledge, Morecambe Bay will see greater economic benefits, delighted customers, increased repeat visits and word of mouth recommendations. Delegates on the spring series of Welcome to Morecambe Bay courses will benefit from a much reduced rate until the end of June thanks to subsidy.