Fish n Fritz in
language route to success

Weymouth’s award winning fish and chip licensed restaurant and take away, Fish n Fritz was set up in 1997 by owners, Paul and Julie Hay. From the start, the go ahead couple aspired to be the best, by serving fresh quality food daily, minimising environmental impacts, supporting sustainable sea fishing and offering a welcome to all.

The Fish n Fritz restaurant in Weymouth

Fish n Fritz is a regional winner and national runner up in the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award. The firm’s business approach to staff training and development is accredited with an Investors in People Award. Over time, developments have included a disabled toilet, toddler changing room and expansion into today’s 52 seater restaurant.

With the restaurant in close proximity to the ferry terminal and the town hosting foreign students and an increasing number of international events, Fish n Fritz has long enjoyed business from overseas visitors.

Paul and Julie wanted to capitalise on this market sector, especially in the approach of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics event in Dorset. Advice was sought in 2005 from the Regional Language Network South West (RLN SW) through business advisor James Piriou, following a networking meeting of the Federation of Small Businesses.

James recommended that menus outside the premises and those on Fish n Fritz’s website be translated into different languages to offer a much more friendly welcome to foreign students and visitors from abroad. An RLN introduction to the head of languages at Budmouth School resulted in an exciting project for Year 10 pupils to write the restaurant’s menus in German. The school relationship continues now with Paul Hay going in one day a month as a business mentor for Year 8 pupils.

Menus are now available in 4 languages- English, French, German and Spanish and this summer 2008, these have been added to the website - www.fishnfritz.co.uk.

A warm welcome is also assured face to face with customers. Paul has attended a “Welcome Extra” course and most of the five full time and up to 30 part time seasonal staff have a basic knowledge of up to two languages. Work on the menu in Braille is now complete and is in use in the restaurant.

The engagement with RLN SW has brought enormous business and personal benefits.

Paul Hay explains: “There has been a definite increase in overseas and local people coming to us over the last twelve months since our translated menus first appeared. We have had an excellent response from customers who really appreciate having the menus translated even if they may want to order in English!

“It’s also made it easier for our staff in taking orders with a resulting quicker turn around. We now employ students with a second language before those who don’t
and we are seen to offer a more professional service overall. We also display visitor information on the Jurassic Coast in all the different languages.

“Contact with RLN SW has made a huge difference to our own personal and business cultural awareness in an increasingly multi racial society. The recommended actions now implemented have helped to raise our profile locally and brought us to the attention of other organisations. For example, Bath University has filmed our operations this year with staff talking to customers in Spanish and helping them with their orders. Our contact with RLN SW has inspired us to want to do even more.”

Paul and Julie won’t have to wait long. The RLN SW team is planning an imminent series of free and informal lunchtime language sessions giving information and guidance on learning a new language. The “Languages for Lunch” sessions to be announced soon will have widespread appeal to anyone wanting to brush up their language skills. Fish n Fritz is the chosen venue where professionals and local language volunteers will be on hand to help keen business people, local residents and students over lunch.

James Piriou, RLN SW advisor says: “Fish n Fritz is an ideal venue for our “Languages for Lunch” sessions. Paul Hay’s enthusiasm for language and cultural understanding in his ongoing business development is likely to draw in other businesses in Weymouth too. It is great to see that our advice has translated into business success for Fish n Fritz.”

Visit the Fish n Fritz website at www.fishnfritz.co.uk.

 

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