Case Study
Diageo Northern Ireland’s New Hospitality and Tourism Academy
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster today launched the Diageo Tourism and Hospitality Academy at a special ceremony in the Scala restaurant at Stormont Hotel, Belfast.
The Academy, modelled on Diageo’s globally acclaimed Learning for Life programme is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and is designed and delivered by Belfast Met, supported by Diageo and is FLU funded by the Department for Employment and Learning to provide real employment opportunities in the hospitality and tourism industry for 18-24 year olds.
Speaking at the launch today, Minister Farry said:
“The hospitality sector is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland and skills development initiatives like this between the public and private sector are hugely encouraging as we look to create employment opportunities for young people.
“The Academy provides a structured route and progression pathway to further education and offers young people the opportunity to gain employment in the growing hospitality and tourism sector and contribute to the growth of our local economy.”
Minister Foster said:
“The Diageo Hospitality and Tourism Academy presents a wonderful opportunity for young people to forge a career in our vibrant hospitality sector. Northern Ireland is renowned for the warmth of our welcome and the first impressions made by those working in our hotels, bars and restaurants go a long way to shaping the experiences of visitors here. Such initiatives are vital as we look to build on our reputation as a first-class visitor destination.”
Welcoming the two ministers, and the programme’s two partners Belfast Met and Visit Belfast, Liam Reid, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo Ireland said,
“Diageo’s Learning for Life programme will provide unemployed people with coaching, core employability skills and specialist bartender training; opening the door to a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the growing Northern Ireland hospitality industry. I applaud the Department of Employment and Learning and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for their support and commitment in developing this programme to finding meaningful and sustainable solutions to youth unemployment. This truly transformative global programme has the ability to change lives and I am proud that 16 young people in Northern Ireland will get this wonderful opportunity.”
“Belfast Met is pleased to be working with a global company such as Diageo, who endeavour to help others develop skills for life as much as we do. As the largest higher and further education college in Northern Ireland Belfast Met is committed to ensuring that students thrive in their chosen course no matter their background or employment history. Our partnership with Diageo fulfils our ethos towards holistic learning, in which students can gain the best experience possible in order to prepare them for the next steps in their future career.” said Damian Duffy, Belfast Met Director of Business Development and Learner Services.
Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive of Visit Belfast, welcomed the initiative: “Belfast’s tourism industry has grown from strength to strength over the last 15 years. The City’s youthfulness, creative energy and ambition is an asset the industry needs to continue to enhance and support in order to achieve the ambitions of doubling tourism revenue by 2020.
“The Academy underpins our commitment in nurturing young people by providing valuable opportunities for them gain a wide range of work experience within the sector. Tourism offers a great range of careers and if we are serious about becoming a world-class city break and conference destination we need to invest in opening up credible career opportunities for young people.”
The programme, which is accredited by City and Guilds, will help 16 individuals to develop their skills over a 16 week course involving off-site work experience. They will gain insight and experience of the hospitality and tourism industry including interview preparation, food and beverage skills, customer care and communications and computer skills. Students will also benefit from ongoing mentoring and assistance to guide them through the training and job application process. Following completion of the course participants will have three months paid placement with an industry partner.
Partners in the hospitality and tourism industry in which the participants will be gaining work experience include:
• Lavery’s
• Pavilion
• Love and Death Inc
• Duke of York
• Harp bar
• John Hewitt
• Kitchen Bar
• McHugh’s bar
• Apartment
• Visit Belfast