The Sheffield College has partnered Hospitality Sheffield, an organisation representing hotels and event spaces in the English city, to launch a one-year hospitality apprenticeship pilot. Copthorne Sheffield is one of of the hotels that are hosting a total fourteen apprentices in front-of-house and commis chef roles in the pilot, which started earlier this academic year.
The apprenticeship is aimed at developing the skills and qualifications of existing staff at the hotels. If successful, the programme will be rolled out to more businesses and new recruits to the industry in the next academic year in September.
Copthorne Sheffield Human Resources and Development Manager Ms Kate Stenton, who is also a board member of Hospitality Sheffield, said: “We need more people with the right skills to train in the hospitality industry, particularly in some of the basic craft service skills and etiquette.”
“We know there is some great potential hospitality talent in Sheffield. Our aim is to nurture and keep it in the city. Our industry offers exciting job opportunities, and we want new lifeblood coming through. This trial scheme is our response to that challenge. We are pleased that The Sheffield College is supporting us, given its strong reputation in the catering and hospitality sector,” she added
The apprentices train in the workplace and spend time studying in the classroom at The Sheffield College’s City campus on Granville Road. They include Ms Rhiannah Toppin, aged 23, Food and Beverage Assistant, who is doing her apprenticeship at Copthorne Sheffield.
She said, “I’m enjoying meeting other colleagues from the industry and understanding we all have the same aims, but with different constraints and challenges, although some challenges are similar. I hope the course will give me the confidence to be able to gain promotion within the workplace.”
(L-R) Ms Toppin; Copthorne Sheffield Human Resources and Development Manager Ms Kate Stenton; and The Sheffield College Deputy Head of Learning Ms Lyn Sale.
The Sheffield College Deputy Head of Learning Ms Lyn Sale said, “We are pleased to work with Hospitality Sheffield, who represent the city’s leading hotels and event companies. This innovative approach will ensure our industry develops and grows local talent, and provides exciting and rewarding careers in hospitality. As well as ensuring employees develop key craft skills, it also offers them the opportunity to work with catering and hospitality colleagues across the city.”
The Sheffield College is a higher education university, with a national reputation for the catering and hospitality industry. It offers a range of bakery, catering and hospitality and pattisserie courses.
