L to R: Simon Rosam, Director of Delivery at Activate Learning; Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO Experience Oxfordshire; Andy Slater, Group Director of the Lifestyles Faculty at Activate Learning
As part of English Tourism Week, Experience Oxfordshire hosted a lunch with its Ambassador Partner, Activate Learning, at its Oxford hospitality school. Guests were served a meal prepared by learners, allowing students to showcase their skills whilst engaging with industry professionals.
Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO at Experience Oxfordshire explained, “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 that will prove relevant throughout a working life; 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 engaged in this programme 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.”
In response to ongoing staff recruitment issues within the hospitality and leisure sectors, Experience Oxfordshire offers partners a free platform for posting job vacancies.
Activate Learning has two colleges in Oxfordshire: the City of Oxford College and University Centre, and Banbury and Bicester College. These colleges offer the local community a variety of technical, vocational, and academic education and training opportunities, including entry-level, full-time academic and vocational study programmes, apprenticeships, leisure courses, and university-level qualifications.
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.”
Attending the lunch, Victoria Calcutt, Sales Manager at the Old Swan & Minster Mill and an alumnus 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 are well documented. I congratulate Experience Oxfordshire for partnering with Activate Learning and facilitating this event.”
At the event, Cara Rooney, Level 2 Learner and Head Waitress said, “The training here with Activate Learning has been enjoyable, and the facilities are the best. The trainers are really good, 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.”
Guests enjoyed a three-course meal at the college’s Recharge restaurant, where the Hospitality and Professional Cookery Department caters for private events. The menu featured a selection of canapés, followed by a starter of roasted carrot hummus, smoky baba ganoush, lamb keftedes, radish tzatziki, and flatbread. For the main course, guests had the choice of seared fillet of stone bass with soft saffron polenta and seafood vinaigrette or a vegetarian option of brie and caramelised red onion tart with soft saffron polenta and roasted red pepper vinaigrette. The meal concluded with a chocolate and raspberry delice and a chocolate tuille.
Click here to find out more about Experience Oxfordshire.
