East Lothian hospitality and tourism academy success
The East Lothian Hospitality and Tourism Academy, which gives schoolchildren a taste of the world of employment, is expanding.
During its first year, the initiative involved 34 senior pupils from Ross High, Musselburgh Grammar and Preston Lodge High who learned academic and practical skills in addition to their full school timetable. Classes offered training in a number of areas in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The academy is run by a partnership of East Lothian Council, Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College and several prominent employers.
Pupils have been given professional kitchen training and qualifications, organising and carrying out events at school and reception training and assessment with employers. They have also been learning about events marketing and many other facets of the hospitality industry.
Local employers including Marriot Hotels, Archerfield, Prestonfield House, Novotel, Macdonald Hotels and the Caledonian Waldorf Astoria have provided the youngsters with placements and practical opportunities.
Councillor Shamin Akhtar, cabinet member for education, said: “The academy’s success in its first year with students, employers and educational institutes mean that we are already able to discuss future expansion. Some work already underway includes the introduction of an HNC qualification for participants of the academy which, if successfully undertaken, would result in automatic entry into taking part in the Scottish Culinary Championships at the 2nd year of the Hospitality and Tourism degree at Queen Margaret University direct from 6th year.
“It is very encouraging that the students who have started this programme which requires them to give up one afternoon and one evening a week are still very much engaged and see the value in the Academy. This in turn is appreciated by major employers. Hospitality and tourism are major factors within both the local East Lothian and also Scottish economies and so it’s an appropriate time for his successful partnership initiative to develop.”
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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