Four hospitality apprentices from north Liverpool are to learn the tricks of their chosen trades at one of the world’s top training academies.
The 18-year-olds flew to Dubai over bank holiday weekend to spend a week at the world-renowned Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM).
The four are currently training at the Isla Gladstone conservatory in Stanley Park with Hestia Careers, the training partner of the Anfield Regeneration project. Led by Your Housing Group in partnership with The Isla Gladstone, Hestia Careers recruits 18-24 year olds and places them in local hospitality businesses where they gain the necessary skills and experience to gain a qualification in their field.
For Aimmie Pepper, Rachael McKenna and Alex Hughes who are aiming for NVQs in customer service and front of house skills and Danny Forshaw who is studying bakery, it is a trip of a lifetime.
Amy, who is from Anfield and landed a place at Hestia Careers following weekend work in Kemps Bistro, said: “We are very excited. This will be an amazing experience for all of us and will give us the opportunity to learn about more aspects of the industry and develop more.
“I’ve already learned a lot here at Isla Gladstone, having started working in the bistro before progressing to office duties and corporate events, but this will take it to another level.”
The Emirates academy specialises in providing business management training with a hospitality focus and is situated next to the Burj Al Arab, regarded as the world’s most luxurious hotel.
EAHM is an integral part of the Jumeirah Group, which manages numerous luxury hotel properties, has several international accreditations and also works closely with other international hotel chains enabling their graduates to be well placed for their future careers.
During their week-long visit the four will be given training in customer service and hotel management and be given a qualification certificate if they are successful.
Neil Dempsey, training manager with Hestia, based at Isla Gladstone and who is accompanying the youngsters on their trip, said: “This kind of opportunity doesn’tcome around often and each of them deserves this because of the attitude and application they have shown in their time since joining us.
“Training with such a household name will give their career prospects a massive boost. Having EAHM’s qualification will look great on their CVs and help them realise their potential and ambition – and of course the experience of going to Dubai to receive this quality of training is very exciting in itself.”
The four will also be accompanied by Isla Gladstone chef Aaron Morris who will also be receiving some training.
Gemma McGowan, Director of Hestia Careers, added: “Providing access to this sort of training is one way we can help the young people working with us build the skills they need for a long and successful career in hospitality.”
The Anfield Regeneration project is a partnership between Your Housing Group, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Football Club. Together, the trio are masterminding the regeneration of the Anfield area. Key developments include new and refurbished housing, new retail premises, new public realm and the restoration of Stanley Park, all complementing the football club’s stadium expansion.
It is also planned that Hestia Careers will have strong links to the proposed training hotel which would be situated on the new Anfield Square. The 100-bedroom training hotel will anchor the wider programme of general improvement to Walton Breck Road High Street and would create 50 new jobs.
Pictured are Rachael McKenna, Aimmie Pepper, Stephen Guy (Isla Gladstone manager), Alex Hughes and Danny Forsha
