Solihull College & University Centre are working closely with the NEC Group’s catering arm, Amadeus, to introduce candidates to exciting apprenticeship opportunities in hospitality.
The College and Amadeus have joined forces to create 15 bespoke Level 2 Hospitality Team Member Apprenticeships, offering candidates the chance to earn while you train with a multi award-winning employer and first-class educational institution.
Amadeus delivers catering solutions to venues and event organisers who want to provide visitors with a unique and memorable food experience. It’s customer portfolio includes delivering catering solutions to around four million visitors per year at the NEC Group venues (the NEC, The ICC, Genting Arena, Arena Birmingham and Vox Conference Centre) which it has worked with for over 40-years.
The hospitality apprenticeship will provide practical experience within the NEC Group venues, combined with theory-based learning. Candidates will work toward a hospitality team member apprentice standard and a permanent position of employment. Successful candidate’s may be given the opportunity to progress to a higher-level Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship where they can work toward becoming a team leader.
Sara Sweeney, Head of School for Retail and Commercial at Solihull College & University Centre, said: “At the College we are constantly looking to provide the best opportunities for our students in their career progression. Our current initiative with Amadeus not only addresses the skills shortage but creates exciting roles and futures for our students. We are proud to continue working with NEC group and look forward to a thriving future as apprenticeship partners”.
Emma Cope, HR Business Partner for Amadeus, said: “With a pledge from the government to increase the number of apprenticeships to three million by 2020, this exciting new apprenticeship programme is part of a sustained effort to address the significant skills shortage in the UK catering industry, particularly for young people. The catering industry constantly needs new talent to grow and diversify – at Amadeus, we see apprenticeships as a way of building the talent of the future providing those who aspire to a career in hospitality the opportunity to learn from the very best.”
Abdul Rahman, 19, decided full time education wasn’t for him from an early age as he needed to work and train at the same time to support his young family. He heard about the apprenticeship opportunities Amadeus was offering in partnership with Solihull College & University Centre and he decided to begin training towards his Level 2 Hospitality Team Member qualification.
Abdul spent one day a week at Solihull College& University Centre. The rest of the week he learnt practical skills at the ICC, one of the UK’s busiest conference centres. While training for his qualification, he learnt skills such as serving dinners, plate waiting and money handling.
Today, Abdul is a Duty Managerial Assistant following the successful completion of his Level 2 apprenticeship. Abdul plans to continue on to a higher level apprenticeship.
Abdul said: “Working for Amadeus is amazing because you get vast experience working in this company. Every single day is different – in the same day you can go from serving at a small event for 10 to a banquet for 300! I love that you get real life skills on the job, rather than by just sitting in a classroom”.
Prospective apprentices are now being encouraged to get their application in before the closing date of 21st January 2018, after which the successful 15 candidates will be selected.
Once the 15 apprenticeships have completed the 15-month programme, they will complete an end-point assessment to ensure apprentices meet the industry benchmark.
Find out more about Solihull College & University Centre’s Hospitality & Catering courses.
