Work-based hospitality training programme launches in Merseyside

11-Mar-2014 - Last updated on 26-Apr-2021 at 19:26 GMT

(L-R): Tony Evans (Can Cook), Gemma McGowan (Hestia Careers & Isla Gladstone), the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Gary Millar, Kathy Cowell OBE (Your Housing Group) and Brian Cronin (Your Housing Group)

A new training initiative has been launched to educate and empower young people from across Merseyside to allow them to begin their careers in the hospitality industry.

Hestia Careers is a work-based hospitality programme; targeting people aged 18-24, giving them hands-on industry experience and paying for them to further their talents.

Gemma McGowan, the programme’s director, said: “Hestia Careers’ ambition is to be a respected, work-based hospitality programme, focusing on learning by doing, not simply by listening.

“We want to give young people a real, authentic opportunity to develop and grow a career in the hospitality industry.”

Over 120 people attended the recent launch of Hestia Careers at the Isla Gladstone, with representatives from large hospitality operators including Ramada Plaza Hotels in attendance.

Your Housing Group, in partnership with The Isla Gladstone, sought a solution for young people in Liverpool to carve out a career for themselves in the hospitality industry, and thus Hestia Careers was born.

Diversity

By joining Hestia Careers, Merseyside students will become part of a team working within a real business, and they will have the support and guidance of a personal mentor whilst on their training.

McGowan added: “The icing on the cake is that there’s more to hospitality than simply cooking and serving. The hospitality industry is booming, not only in the UK but worldwide, and includes a wide range of potential careers at glamorous holiday resorts, on-board cruise ships, within sales and marketing, management and even IT.

“We will inspire, guide and support all of our students and encourage them to raise their career ambitions to find what really interests them.”

The programme is a mix of training and experiences over a 12-month period. Students will also attend master classes with industry experts to expose them to a broad range of experiences.

The young people will gain a level 2 or 3 NVQ; but it will be relevant to their area of expertise and will be able to back up all of their learning with on the job experience.

For more information, visit www.hestiacareers.co.uk.