The Council has led on creating industry activities to shine a light on the opportunities provided by this vibrant sector. ‘My Hospitality World, Warwickshire’, (27 February – 5 March) is an example of this work, which brings top local hospitality employers and education together. The initiative will introduce pupils to the world of work, showcase opportunities available, and inspire young people to consider a career in this rapidly growing sector.
Around 200 students from 20 Warwickshire schools are set to participate in the event. While 18 hotels from across the region have signed up to take part, including Q-Hotels, The Eden Hotel Collection, Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, Hallmark, and many others. They will be offering a range of ‘backstage' tours, presentations and job-shadowing opportunities to demonstrate what's on offer and spot future talent. Some of the workshops on offer include: The Taste Bud Challenge, Pizza Making, Spa Academy, The Customer Service experience and Manager in the Making. To find out more about the events on offer visit: http://www.myhospitalityworldwarwickshire.com/events
The Warwickshire campaign is part of a national initiative with similar events taking place around the country. Backing the campaign, is top Maitre'D, Fred Sirieix, who features on the TV shows, First Dates, and My Million Pound Menu. Adding his support, Fred says: "Come join the world of hospitality, explore new horizons and a career that will give you the skills and knowledge to enable you to work around the world."
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council says: “This is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to discover more about this growing industry. With work experience and visits to top employers on offer, they will be able to get a real insight into the breadth of employment opportunities available in the hospitality industry. We hope as many as young people as possible will take part in, and be inspired by, the exciting events taking place across the region."
Lisa Redding, Head of HR for Eden Hotel Collection has been a member of the steering committee for the my Hospitality World project and says: “We’re immensely proud to have been part of this exciting initiative and the first ‘My Hospitality World’ week outside of London. There are many misconceptions around careers in hospitality despite the vast scope of opportunities and the ability to progress at a young age - engaging with local schools/colleges must be a key priority for all hospitality employers to enable us to inspire the next generation. The opportunity to be able to welcome teachers, students and parents into our hotels during this week is really exciting and will enable us to showcase our exciting industry.”
Peter Ducker FIH, Chief Executive of the Institute of Hospitality, adds: "As the professional body for the hospitality industry, our purpose is to promote hospitality management through lifelong learning. We want to encourage and support people to embark on a career path in this exciting industry and the ‘My Hospitality World' initiative will help us to achieve this."
"What better way to celebrate and showcase an industry than the employers themselves opening up their doors and inviting future employees to see what's on offer. We are confident that we will successfully inspire the next generation of chefs, hotel managers and restaurant owners – ensuring a bright future for the nation's hospitality industry."
To find out more, contact [email protected]
