Bromley College launches UK’s first hospitality career college
The new college will be one of the UK’s very first career colleges and will combine the teaching of core curriculum GCSEs with vocational training and qualifications in the hospitality and catering industry. The college will be accepting young people between the ages of 14 and 19.
Programme and facilities
The new career college will be located at Bromley College’s Orpington campus. Construction work on the building is starting in May, when three floors of the college will be converted to house the new facilities.
Students studying at the hospitality college will have access to sophisticated new catering and training amenities including kitchens and classrooms. They will also have the use of a new restaurant in Orpington town centre which will be run by the students.
Those who start at the new college aged 14 will continue to study a programme of six academic GCSEs, including English, maths and science, alongside learning practical skills that will facilitate a career in the hospitality industry.
The college also has the support of some key businesses in the industry including top London restaurants, which will mean students can take advantage of a number of apprenticeship and work experience opportunities.
Support from the industry
The Hospitality, Food and Enterprise Career College also has the support of a number of key employers in the industry, including Hilton Hotels, Hyatt, D&D London and the Dorchester Group. These companies were involved in putting together the training curriculum at the college, which they claim will be interesting for students as well as boosting their chances of finding employment in the industry once qualified.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Giving young Londoners the chance to get the skills they need to thrive is at the very top of my agenda, so it’s great that Bromley College are opening this innovative ‘career college’ in the capital and giving young people the opportunity to learn a trade.
“Thanks to London’s international appeal as a top tourist destination, hospitality is one of the city’s boom industries and it is superb to have a college helping more young Londoners into a great career and helping to meet the demand for a skilled and dedicated workforce in this field.”
Colleges such as this one could work to address the recent claims that the hospitality industry faces stunted growth unless more is done to attract young people into a career in the field.
The college is hosting an open day at its Bromley Campus on Monday 28 April from 4.30pm to 7pm where visitors can find out more about the new opportunities available.
