Member Article

Liverpool college showcases hospitality and catering talent

The City of Liverpool College will celebrate the thriving hospitality and leisure scene during Visitor Economy Week and showcase the huge contribution it makes to the city region.

Thousands of former college students and current apprentices are employed in Liverpool hotels, bars and restaurants, with many more studying for a life in the city’s growing sector.

Visitor Economy Week will take place from the 6 – 9 February and will showcase a variety of opportunities and diverse skills associated with a career in the visitor economy.

During the week, more than 60 activities are taking place to provide a taste of working in hospitality, retail, tourism and travel.

Events being held by the college include a guest masterclass with Michelin-star chef and former student Liam Trotman, an Indian street food cookery class, an artisan bread workshop, a session on learning how to make pastries and cupcakes, a butchery class, a cocktail masterclass at The Alchemist, plus a careers fair and more classes showcasing the college’s raft of courses.

Chefs who work at some of the most popular eateries in the Business District will be riding through the city centre in their whites on City Bikes, visiting and sampling food and drink at hotels and restaurants from the college’s Roscoe Street Learning Exchange to Exchange Flags on 8th February.

Other events organised by the college are The Technology of Pullman, which will explain to students how the four-star hotel uses cutting edge communication to connect its guests with the hotel and the world.

The college will also be launching a new scheme to help unemployed people secure a job in the logistics and transport sectors by training them to become PCV or HGV drivers.

Working with Huyton Travel Ltd, Abacus UK Training Ltd, Merseytravel, NW Education and Training and other partners in training predominately unemployed people to become either PCV or HGV drivers, so far more than 250 people have passed their test and all have them have gone into employment.

The driving test centre for PCV and HGV is the only one in Liverpool and anyone who wants to find out more is welcome to attend the official launch on Tuesday 7th February 8am until till 10am at Merseytravel at Mann Island.

The event is open to all, including employers, students, jobseekers and anyone looking for a career change.

Logistics is regarded as one of the city region’s key growth areas, with the opening of the Liverpool 2 port terminal this year expected to pave the way for a significant increase in international freight passing through the city.

The sector employs around 194,000 people across the North West, more` than 6% of the region’s workforce.

The City of Liverpool College’s Principal Elaine Bowker said: “More than £4bn is generated by the visitor economy in the Liverpool City Region each year.

“The college is the biggest in the city region and many talented and hard-working students have gone on from one of our courses to work in the visitor economy sector, with some opening their own businesses in Liverpool or going on to earn top accolades, like Liam Trotman.

“We are aiming to showcase the variety of opportunities in visitor economy that can be taken advantage of and I am delighted our partners are joining us in demonstrating how important this sector is to the city and wider region.”

The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) visitor economy team supports this week as part of its initiative to help skills development across the sector. They have been working with colleges and skills providers across the city region to help retain employees in the sector and improve links with employers.

Joining The City of Liverpool College in providing events and activities during Visitor Economy Week is Riverside College, Hugh Baird College, St Helens College, Knowsley College, Southport College and Wirral Met.

Students are being encouraged to sign up to the website and register for the events at www.visitoreconomyweek.co.uk which has a full timetable of events and more information.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Maria Carr .