Great chance to forge career in hospitality sector

A free six-week hospitality training course hopes to bolster skills and boost confidence for those looking to get into the industry.

Evan Samson, hospitality manager at Dumfries House near Cumnock, said the Prince’s Foundation ‘Introduction to Hospitality’ course is needed this year more than ever as the industry was hit hard by the pandemic, leaving many people out of a job.

The course, which runs from May 16-June 24, arms students with basic skills across a range of services including kitchen skills, butler service, bar and wine training, reception work, housekeeping and others.

And it provides an opportunity to gain a recognised qualification at the end – a City and Guilds Level 1 Award in Introduction to the Hospitality Industry.

Evan, who has worked at Dumfries House for seven years, said: “I think hospitality was hit one of the hardest and a lot of venues, unfortunately, couldn’t keep staff.

“So there are a lot of people out there who need to get back into work.

“It is very much a ‘jack of all trades’ course, where it’s giving you a taste of everything you can do in hospitality.

“And then you can make the decision ‘I want to be a chef’, ‘I want to work front of house’, ‘I want to be a receptionist’, ‘I want to be a housekeeper’. It’s a risk-free, cost-free way of finding out if you enjoy working in a hospitality environment and if you are suited to the industry.”

The course is open to adults over 18 who live in Ayrshire, with participants picked up from Cumnock bus station.

A one-week work placement in venues across the region is also part of the course.

This enables students to put their skills to the test in a real-life work setting.

Previous placement providers include Seamill Hydro, Marks and Spencer, Troon’s Marine Hotel and the Western House Hotel in Ayr.

Taster sessions for the course take place on May 5 and May 10.

For more info or to receive an application form, email Evan at: e. samson@dumfries-house.org.uk