Member Article

Students check in to takeover Teesside hotel

Students from Middlesbrough College checked in to Teesside’s largest hotel this week, but it was no vacation as the group rolled up their sleeves to help run the hotel.

Partnering for the third time, the four star Jurys Inn, hosted 17 students to give them real-life hospitality experience before they begin their chosen careers.

Jurys Inn staff welcomed students to the Fry Street hotel, taking on daily tasks alongside ‘staff buddies’ for two days this week, working the same shifts and gaining invaluable insight into how the busy hotel operates.

Hotel General Manager, Damon Roberts was pleased to reinstate the scheme this year, saying: “We enjoyed having students from Middlesbrough College with us again and we were pleased to share our experience and customer servive focus with the students.

“They have been working in various departments throughout the hotel, ranging from manning the hotel and health club reception desks, serving in the bar, cooking in the kitchen and also ensuring the smooth running of our corporate meeting events.

“Students continue to be the future of our industry and we are honoured to share our expertise – they all got gold stars from us.”

The students – all studying on Middlesbrough College’s industry-leading hospitality and catering courses – put into practice the skills and knowledge they have been taught by their tutors, most of whom come from hospitality backgrounds.

During a busy few days they hit the ground running – helping to keep the 17 meeting rooms serviced and running smoothly and picking up valuable experience along the way.

At College the BA Hons and Level 3 students have aleady developed workplace skills that put them ahead of the pack when it comes to getting a first step on the career ladder.

Across the 11 different catering and hospitality courses available students can expect to get first-hand experience in the College’s on-site restaurant, the Waterside Brasserie, which is open to the public.

And the Jurys Inn programme is just one of a number of workplacements that help students get to grips with this fast-paced industry.

Curriculum team leader and organiser of the initiative, Molly Shaher added: “We saw a large number of students wanting to be involved in this year’s partnership with Jurys Inn.

“Experience is so important to compliment the work in the class room and we love working with respected local employers such as Jurys Inn, because our links with business and industry are vital for practical learning.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Middlesbrough College .