June 2015
High school students gain insight into the restaurant industry
Read time: approx 1 mins
Year 9 and 10’s from Birmingham schools have been getting an insight into the world of work by spending time in the UCB kitchens and restaurants as a part of the National Waiters Day initiative to celebrate the skill and hard work needed for those wanting to excel in the service industry.
Students from seven high schools including Northern House School, Aston Manor, Pedmore Technical College and Arden Academy have been learning from UCB students on Level 2 and 3 Professional Food and Beverage Service courses and developing their own skills in The Atrium and Brasserie restaurants at the university.
The high school pupils were given a tour of the University facilities, including the new Food Science and Innovation Suite, and were treated to a range of service demonstrations by UCB students, who talked to them about their studies and future career goals.
Devon Ellis, a teacher at Northern House School in Solihull, said: “The experiences offered by UCB are a great opportunity for our students to get an idea of what it’s like to work into the restaurant industry.
“They get to observe first-hand what sort of jobs they would be doing and ask relevant career questions such as what the working hours are like and what specific skills are needed in order to succeed in a service or catering role.”
The students got involved with serving restaurant guests, taking orders and being part of the food service team. This is a great initiative that opens young minds to the opportunities that UCB provides and the exciting and diverse nature of the Hospitality industry.
National Waiters Day is a chance to celebrate all front of house staff and inspire people about careers in the hospitality industry. It aims to change the perception of front of house and service as low-skilled occupation with long hours to one that offers food skills, leads to a rewarding career with good progression routes and amazing rewards.