Jobseekers bid for dream careers with new hospitality initiative
Jobseekers in Ayrshire are on track to score their dream careers in hospitality thanks to a new initiative.
Hub International is an industry training provider base in Marathon House, Dundonald, which also boasts a successful training academy in Glasgow city centre.
They’re working in partnership with the charity Enable to support new talent from Ayrshire to enter the hospitality industry.
Their training programme was developed for the East Ayrshire region, taking into consideration current employment trends and job availability in the area.
The course was open to unemployed people of any age thanks to support from the UK Government Community Renewal Fund.
East Ayrshire Job Centres and East Ayrshire Council’s SL33 project were key to supporting the candidates from the region to get access to the opportunity, and with more than 20 candidates starting the programme it was in high demand.
For four weeks, The Palace Theatre was transformed into a pop-up training academy as budding chefs, bartenders and baristas received daily tuition from a variety of industry experts in sought after skills.
From pro cookery, knife skills, bartending, flair and silver service to qualifications in food safety, customer service and alcohol licensing, trainees also got the chance to tour local tourism and hospitality hotspots.
There, they enjoyed behind the scenes venue tours, meeting operators, dining out experiences and question time with employers and entrepreneurs so they could find the right career path for them.
After getting to grips with the essential skills needed, the trainees were ready to move onto real life practice out in industry.
This included positions in housekeeping, bakery, front of house service and kitchens across a variety of employers including, Ferguson’s Bakery, The Park Hotel, Kilmarnock Football Club and CentreStage.
Over 50 per cent of the trainees have secured paid employment already, while others are moving into further training and education now they have found the confidence to boost their CV and focus on their careers.
Hub International was founded five years ago by industry expert Stephanie Wade.
She said: “This programme aims to tackle unemployment in Ayrshire, as well as support tourism and hospitality businesses to think about becoming more inclusive and attractive employers, which will support their skills shortage in the long term.
“It’s crucial for hospitality businesses to start planning now to attract the next generation of hospitality employees. To do this it’s important to adopt fair and inclusive practices when recruiting, supporting young or unemployed people with no experience to access vacancies, coupled with paying the living wage and guaranteeing contracted hours over the use of zero hours contracts is one way to become a great employer and attract new talent.
“We’d like to thank the support we’ve had from the local community. Especially the employers who have been keen to ensure their jobs are sustainable, making it easier for job seekers come off benefits and get working without fear of being worse off.’’
The graduation of the trainees took place at the Palace Theatre where trainees put their skills to the test to deliver a full five star afternoon tea service for their friends, family and supporters of the initiative. Hub International Head of Culinary Education, Lauren Shields, added: “This has been an unbelievable group of trainees, they’ve not stopped challenging themselves and stepping out of their comfort zone. I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.’’
For more information or to support future initiatives contact info@hi-people.org