Free BSL course spotlights hospitality’s role in breaking down communication barriers for the UK’s 11 million Deaf and hard-of-hearing people
Access Hospitality (through CPL Learning), experts in learning and development for hospitality, today highlights its British Sign Language (BSL) Phrases for Hospitality online course, available free of charge to all hospitality professionals across the UK, ahead of Deaf Awareness Week 2026, taking place 4–10 May.
This year’s Deaf Awareness Week is themed ‘Right to Understand: Together We Break Barriers’, a call to action for industries and individuals to champion inclusion and accessibility. CPL Learning’s free BSL course responds directly to that challenge, equipping hospitality teams with the essential signing skills to communicate confidently with Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests and colleagues.
Starring The Deaf Chef: Sam Egerton-Kemp
The course features a unique collaboration with Sam Egerton-Kemp, widely known as ‘The Deaf Chef’, a passionate advocate for Deaf awareness in hospitality with over 223,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Sam guides learners through a series of key hospitality phrases in BSL, covering real-world scenarios including welcoming guests, taking orders, navigating dietary requirements, and handling service interactions, all presented in an engaging, accessible format designed for busy hospitality professionals.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of this project,” said Sam Egerton-Kemp. “Hospitality is for everyone, and for Deaf guests, simply being acknowledged in BSL can transform their entire experience. This course gives teams the confidence to take that first step, and it’s free, so there’s no barrier to getting started.”
Follow Sam on social media:
- TikTok: @deafchefofficial
- Instagram: @deafchefofficial
- Threads deafchefofficial
- Facebook: The Deaf Chef
Why This Matters for Hospitality
There are an estimated 11 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing. Despite this, awareness and communication training in hospitality remains limited, meaning a significant proportion of guests regularly encounter avoidable barriers when dining out, visiting pubs, or staying in hotels.
Access Hospitality’s BSL Phrases for Hospitality course (delivered through CPL Learning) addresses this gap directly. Bite-sized, practical, and designed for all levels, the course requires no prior knowledge of BSL and can be completed in a single sitting, making it ideal for team briefings, induction programmes, or individual self-development.
“Deaf Awareness Week is a vital moment for our industry to reflect on inclusion. We are committed to making learning accessible for everyone, whether that’s our learners, or the guests they serve. This free course is our contribution to the Right to Understand campaign, and we hope teams across hospitality take full advantage of it.” Said Rob Paterson, Commercial Director, Access Hospitality.
Access the course here : cpllearning.com/online-courses/british-sign-language-phrases-for-hospitality/
Course Trailer Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj6EGOPRjVU
