EP Magazine

Teachers turn to industry for help with new Hospitlaity Diploma

Teachers and lecturers are increasingly turning to the hospitality industry for help in lesson planning for the new Diploma in Hospitality, according to a poll from People 1st. Oksana Higglesden reports

The new 14-19 Diplomas are one of the three main education choices for young people – alongside GCSEs/A levels and Apprenticeships. Prompted by the need to develop a brand new curriculum with accompanying lesson plans and packs, over half (55 percent) of those surveyed claimed to have contacted local hospitality employers for support in helping prepare themselves for the new Diploma.

In fact, hospitality employers are proving to be a valuable source of resources. Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of teachers and lecturers confirmed they had a
good working relationship with their local employers. 66 percent said they were getting sufficient support from local employers, especially from hotels and restaurants, but welcomed more input from employers involved in events management (69 percent), pubs, bars and nightclubs (64 percent), and membership
clubs (96 percent).

Teachers and lecturers particularly valued work experience for Diploma students as well as careers, information, advice and guidance on different roles. Yet an overwhelming 80 percent of respondents said they required more mentoring while 50 percent sought more teacher support such as course materials and site tours. Encouragingly, a number of teachers were pleasantly surprised that students were far more interested in the Hospitality Diploma than they had originally envisaged.
83 percent of practitioners said that their students enjoyed and were greatly benefiting from the Hospitality Diploma and looked forward to coming to class.

Hospitality employers too, give their unreserved backing for the new Hospitality Diploma. All employers surveyed agree that the new qualification provides
14-19 year olds with a good grounding in the hospitality industry, while 75 percent believe that it provides a great source for well-rounded, work-ready students
from which their business can recruit.

50 percent of employers also said that they intended to offer more support to schools and colleges in their area including work shadowing, project support, days in industry or business, curriculum visits, careers information, advice and guidance on different roles, mentoring , teaching support, access to facilities on their premises and masterclasses.

Heather Taylor, Hospitality Diploma manager, said: “While our survey findings show that some teachers and lecturers may initially have been daunted by the
prospect of putting together and delivering a brand new syllabus incorporating theory with applied learning, they have taken it in their stride.

“From the beginning, there has been great willingness and enthusiasm from leading professionals to share their industry expertise and offer practical support to schools and colleges. Slowly but surely, more colleges are taking advantage of this rich resource within their community.”

Sean Wheeler, director of people development at Malmaison and Hotel du Vin welcomes the Diploma: “It's a fantastic opportunity for our industry to showcase
the diverse range of careers and genuine opportunities available in a sector that is continually growing, and to demonstrate how individuals can very quickly  progress within their chosen career. Businesses have had a significant input into the development of the Diploma so that young people are given a real insight into the world of hospitality from the start and are equipped with practical experience and the required skills to ensure they are ready for work.”

The new Diploma in Hospitality provides a great example of how industry can feed into education to ensure that the workforce of tomorrow is getting the right skills. The initial signs look promising, and this could provide a great base for future hospitality stars to begin their career.