IGH Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies visited Lewisham College to deliver informative and engaging sessions and to give learners an insight into the industry and explore various career prospects.
During these sessions, learners had the opportunity to learn more about the organisation and explore various career prospects within corporate settings, hotels, and reservations. They were also introduced to the Skills Academy, a virtual platform designed for the next generation of hospitality professionals which gives access to essential learning modules, including Hospitality fundamentals, communication, adaptability, future skills, and self-care. Additionally, representatives from IGH Hotels shared their personal career journeys to inspire and motivate learners to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
The learners were also given the opportunity to participate in a breakfast preparation demonstration, ask questions, and network with industry professionals.
Lalit Kumar, Chef at IGH Hotels, said: “It is always exciting to meet future chefs in the industry. The learners at Lewisham College have been very engaged and have shared their aspirations with me. My advice for young professionals is to stay passionate about the profession to open a world of opportunities.”
Pierce Du Plisse, Head of Food and Beverage at IGH Hotels, said: “I am local to the Lewisham area, so it feels great to come in and give back to the community. I have had the pleasure in delivering a talk on the opportunities learners can get involved in at IGH Hotels. They were interested in hearing about my career journey, they have been attentive and have had a lot of questions. The key to breaking into Hospitality is to simply start. It is nice to have your qualifications, but this profession is very hands on, so learners just need to make a start.”
Omeyenwen Kareem, a Lewisham College Catering learner, said: “IHG Hotels representatives have been informative. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn about various career pathways and gain valuable insights from professionals with extensive experience in the industry. I feel inspired from today’s sessions as I would like to be a Chef one day running my own intercontinental business.”
Jayne Morgan, Vice Principal at Lewisham College, said: "We are delighted to have welcomed IGH Hotels to our College. The learners had the chance to learn from professionals who have extensive experience in the industry, which will undoubtedly help them in their future careers.
"At Lewisham College, we are committed to empowering our learners to reach their career aspirations and support them in making well-informed choices. We believe that providing learners with access to industry professionals and practical experience is essential for their success. The collaboration with IGH Hotels was an excellent example of how Lewisham College's Hospitality Hub is providing learners with opportunities to gain valuable insights and practical experience in their field."
The Hospitality Hub at Lewisham College is part of the Mayor of London's Academies Programme. The Hub works with employers from the Hospitality industry to provide work-based training programmes to help Londoners get into good work and build a career in the industry. Find out more here lewisham.ac.uk/hospitalityacademy
