The message from Highland tourism operators and staff taking part in an innovative language workshop project is 'Vive la France'. 

The pioneering 'French A La Carte' programme, used to build confidence in speaking to customers in the visitors' native tongue, has been so successful that other parts of Scotland are now keen to follow in the Highland footsteps.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) linked up with Tourist Board Training to secure European Social Fund support for 'French A La Carte' - which uses language skills to help staff to be more welcoming and helpful to customers, bringing real bottom line benefits to businesses.

"The idea behind 'French A La Carte' has been to tackle language training in a new way and was prompted by findings of research undertaken by the Scottish Centre of Tourism based at Robert Gordons University," explained Audrey MacLennan, who is responsible for tourism skills development at HIE.

"The research highlighted that the Highlands and Islands could be losing a significant amount of European business because Scottish hotel workers were unable to communicate in French and German.  There didn't appear to be a shortage of training opportunities, but we felt it would be worth experimenting with different approaches to delivery and we're now assessing the outcomes of the experiment."

The programme ran from May to December with get-togethers in Dingwall and Aviemore.  Both groups focused on French but two very different methods of delivery were implemented. 

The Black Isle workshops focused on a traditional cultural theme, including translating menus and discovering more about French food, wine and culture while the Badenoch and Strathspey pilot implemented a drama-based theme to help with group dynamics and confidence.  Experts from Eden Court Theatre in Inverness helped to develop the drama content. 

Teams from both areas met and mingled while presenting sketches in French at an end-of-course event in Inverness.

Selected employers and staff from the two pilot locations are now being given the opportunity to participate in a learning journey to France.  The visit to the Le Puy region of France in February is the next step in the programme to further boost the skills, confidence and knowledge of the individuals taking part.

Helen Mackie, project co-ordinator for Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE) and Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE), said: "It's been an extremely stimulating project, we're assessing the initial outcomes and will be sharing the lessons that have been learned with language training providers and other interested groups."

Karen Donnelly, of Tourist Board Training, said: "It's about making relevant training accessible to businesses in rural areas and raising the level of service to the customer - but its also about raising staff confidence while building a positive image of tourism as an exciting career option."

One of those taking part in the project was Ken Naismith, a director of the Black Isle Partnership, he said: "There are 98 tourism businesses in the Black Isle and we have decided to form a tourism forum so the useful lessons those of us who took part in this programme learned can be shared other tourism firms in our area.

"We've got a better understanding of the value of being aware how we can help French visitors, this not only improves their holiday experience but also benefits local tourism.  It's well worth building on."

Walter Grant, representing the Highland branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The project showed its value and HIE are to be congratulated for initiating it.  We'd like to see more of this type of thing as it clearly has direct benefits for businesses."

Participants on the workshops ranged from owner-managers to front-of-house staff.  All those involved, from organisers, providers and participants, agreed it was French without tears and that further projects in different languages are key for staff to deliver excellent Highland hospitality.