Lewisham College recently hosted an engaging and inspiring Hospitality Takeover Day in collaboration with Springboard to ignite the passion for hospitality among local students. The event successfully engaged young minds, challenged their perceptions of the hospitality industry and showcased its potential through hands-on experiences with industry experts.
The event, held at the College's Lewisham Way campus, saw the enthusiastic participation of more than 120 students from years 9 to 11 representing seven schools in the local area. A total of six businesses, including Springboard, Levy, Old Spike Roast, Wimbledon of Compass Group, Hilton London Metropole, and Nightcap PLC, participated in the event, offering tailored workshops to showcase the diverse opportunities within the hospitality sector.
To ensure young people had an opportunity to get a glimpse of the potential career options in the sector, each student group rotated through all workshops, meeting industry experts. Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on activities supported by student ambassadors, including sushi-making masterclasses, teamwork sessions, table-setting, coffee sessions, cocktail masterclasses, and employability sessions.
One of the event's highlights was the sushi-making masterclass led by a head chef from Wimbledon of the Compass Group, providing students with valuable insights into the culinary world. The teamwork session, facilitated by Springboard, highlighted the importance of collaboration and communication in the hospitality industry through interactive challenges.
Students also had the opportunity to learn about table setting from the Hilton London Metropole and enhance their coffee knowledge with Old Spike Roast. Nightcap PLC led an engaging mocktail masterclass for those interested in mixology. Springboard also led the employability session, providing students with essential insights into career readiness and professional development.
Volker Nissen, Employability and Education Programme Manager at Springboard, said: "It was a pleasure to work with Lewisham College on this Hospitality Takeover Day, giving so many young people an exciting flavour of the Hospitality Industry. The feedback from the students was extremely positive, changing their perception of a career in hospitality."
The event was organised in collaboration with Springboard, a charity dedicated to supporting unemployed individuals in enhancing their job prospects and futureproofing the hospitality and tourism talent pipeline.
Lewisham College offers Catering and Hospitality courses for 16-18s and adults. Find out more at lewisham.ac.uk/hospitality.
