Hospitality & Tourism Case Study: Liam Howden (16) from Prestonlodge High School, Prestonpans
Liam in currently in his 5th year at school and is studying in his first year of the Hospitality and Tourism Academy.
He’s enjoying learning outside school and is keen to complete the full two years of the Academy programme.
During his first year with the Academy, Liam has had a wide range of experiences including preparing and serving meals in Edinburgh College’s training restaurant and working in a variety of roles including food preparation and customer service.
Doing the Academy programme has provided Liam with an insight into the range of jobs that are available in the hospitality and tourism sector and he is keen to develop more skills in event management. He knows that the two -year programme will provide lots of learning opportunities but at the moment he’s thinking about doing the HNC Events or HND in Events Management at Edinburgh College and then possibly going to Queen Margaret University.
When asked what’s been the most enjoyable part of the Academy experience, Liam said: “I love the sociable aspects of the Academy, meeting new people from different schools as well as the lecturers and the customers who come for meals in the restaurant. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to work as part of a team – learning to work well together to deliver an event such as a special dinner in the training restaurant. I’m looking forward to doing more of that and developing skills that will help me in event management.
“I have also enjoyed being part of the hospitality culture and understanding the business side which introduces the tourism side of the whole academy. I feel this will be beneficial to my future life if I want to go on to study the events management course at college and then at university. What the academy has brought me is newfound confidence within myself and this will help me become sociable with customers in any restaurant when doing front-of-house work.”
Notes to Editor
For further media information contact Lynne Russell, Marketing Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000, M: 07711 011239 and Jon Perkins, Press and PR Officer, E: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000.
