September 30th, 2013
On Friday 30th August 2013, we were delighted to announce ourselves to the trade and press and unveiled our ambitious plans to launch as of the region’s first ever hotel schools in a bid to ramp up training standards available to the hospitality sector.
We plan to deliver high quality chefs and service staff to establishments across the region and beyond with intense training for students and professionals in our newly built and refurbished bars, dining areas, restaurants and kitchens.
Our exciting plans also include a conference centre, meeting and events areas and retail space.
The vision for the L20 Hotel School was officially presented to key figures from across the UK hospitality industry at a special launch event held at Liverpool’s soon to be opened DoubleTree by Hilton on Dale Street.
Driving forces behind the project were on hand to make presentations including Hugh Baird College principal Yana Williams, L20 Hotel School director Mike Mounfield and Gordon Cartwright from hospitality consultants Visionarydining.com.
The announcement further signals our intent to support the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s growth strategy (LEP see notes to editors 1).
The LEP’s head of visitor economy development Pam Wilsher also presented at the event showing her support for the project.
“Our city region’s visitor economy goes from strength to strength,” said Ms Wilsher. “More than 56 million visitors are attracted each year and they spend 3.4 billion in the local economy which supports 46,000 jobs. I am delighted to welcome the L20 Hotel School as a provider of excellent hospitality training and benefiting from great new facilities and a strong leadership team who will inspire the next generation of chefs and restaurant staff.”
L20 Hotel School director Mike Mounfield, himself a former chef with more than 25 years hospitality experience, said the L20 Hotel School is about becoming the supplier of choice for hospitality education and training at all levels.
“We know the visitor economy is already growing rapidly and only going to get bigger and the demand for jobs will inevitably increase,” he said. “However, to facilitate this growth, extensive and specialist training will be required. From talking with leading names in the hospitality sector, we know there is a skills gap which urgently needs to be filled. A key focus for us is to offer training for existing professionals. It is essential we help to increase the number of senior skilled staff who will have such a vital role in helping the visitor economy to grow.”
Hugh Baird College principal Yana Williams said the L20 Hotel School captures the college’s progressive outlook.
“At Hugh Baird College we are constantly striving to deliver first class standards in education and training,” she said. “A great deal of energy, passion and creativity has gone into developing our L20 Hotel School to enhance the learning experience for our students and industry professionals. The college will be opening its own high end restaurant at the end of September where we will employ full-time staff and apprentices to prepare and deliver food which represents world class dining. There will also be a café ran by students, for students, reinforcing the employment and entrepreneurial skills required to be successful in the hospitality industry. The announcement today is the first in a line of exciting developments taking place over the coming months at the L20 Hotel School including the opening of the restaurant and partnerships with leading employers and suppliers.”
The L20 Hotel School is keen to hear from individuals wanting to start an apprenticeship in catering and from employers within the sector looking to invest and upskill those associated with the visitor economy.
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