Students at City of Oxford College and University Centre served a delicious lunch to celebrate English Tourism Week on Thursday 20 March.
In attendance were representatives from hotels and hospitality businesses from across Oxfordshire, who gathered to celebrate English tourism in the Oxford city-centre campus.
The lunch was created and served by learners, providing them with a great opportunity to display their knowledge and skills, and for guests to meet potential future employees.
VisitEngland’s annual English Tourism Week is an awareness-raising campaign highlighting a sector supporting people and places to drive growth. A key message of the campaign is the breadth of job opportunities and career paths the sector offers.
Guests attending the lunch enjoyed a range of delicious plates made by learners, including:
• Canapés
• Roasted carrot hummus, smoky baba ganoush, lamb keftedes, radish tzatziki and flatbread
• Seared fillet of stone bass, soft saffron polenta and seafood vinaigrette or brie and caramelised red onion tart, soft saffron polenta and roasted red pepper vinaigrette
• Chocolate and raspberry delice and chocolate tuille
Cara Rooney, a Level 2 Professional Culinary Arts student at City of Oxford College and University Centre, and Head Waitress at the event, said: “The training here with Activate Learning has been enjoyable and the facilities are the best. The trainers are very knowledgeable and supportive.
“I’ve been allowed to make mistakes and to learn from them, and I’ve really enjoyed developing my skills, such as presenting food in a creative, attractive way and interacting with guests.
“My confidence has grown and when I leave here, I’m hoping to work in a front of house position.”
Hayley Beer-Gamage, Chief Executive Officer of Experience Oxfordshire, said: “The visitor economy in Oxfordshire is currently worth £2.3 billion and has the capacity to thrive and grow. But for that to be realised we need to ensure we have a trained and enthusiastic workforce.
“Tourism and hospitality are experience sectors, reliant on services delivered by competent and engaged people. In return they offer an impressive range of opportunities, no matter where someone finds themselves on their career path or life stage.
“Early years spent in hospitality, can provide transferable skills which will prove relevant throughout a working life; the varied working hours can offer desirable flexibility and, whatever the role, working in these sectors can create high levels of job satisfaction.
“We’re all here today to show our support to the learners and to encourage them to choose our sectors when considering their next steps into the world of work. I have been very impressed with the quality of food and standards of service we have received here today.”
Andy Slater, Group Director of the Lifestyles Faculty at Activate Learning, said: “The visitor economy accounts for 10% of all employment in Oxfordshire and there is potential for that to grow.
“Activate Learning is committed to supporting the hospitality sector by delivering training that allows our learners to become the competent and confident hospitality workforce of the future.
“We give them the skills to grow both academically and professionally, so they can find the right career path for them. Connecting our learners to business and industry is vitally important to us and we are extremely grateful to Experience Oxfordshire for facilitating this event and giving us a great platform to showcase our talent.”
Victoria Calcutt, Sales Manager at the Old Swan & Minster Mill and an alumna of City of Oxford College and University Centre, commented: “English Tourism Week is about raising the profile of the visitor economy and, as one of many Oxfordshire employers here today, I’m delighted to meet this group of learners who are choosing to join our sector, and to see the level of skills they are demonstrating.
“The quality of the food served and the attention to detail were excellent. The difficulties hospitality businesses have had in recruiting in recent years is well documented. I congratulate Experience Oxfordshire for partnering with Activate Learning and facilitating this event.”
Find out more about Hospitality and Professional Cookery programmes at City of Oxford College and University Centre or contact Activate Learning via 0800 612 6008.
