Business
Last October we looked in more detail at applied learning, what it is and how it can work for both schools and colleges and employers.
Applied, or work based, learning relies on building strong relationships between the consortium and employers. The concept can take many forms and can include a range of activities and level of involvement. Ultimately, by applying the learning directly to the workplace and growing robust links between schools and employers, the learners are given the skills needed for the industry. For innovative consortia and employers, the possibilities are endless. Although in the past there has been an assumption that applied learning refers only to work experience, the Diploma offers a much wider choice to all involved.
Claire Burrell, assistant manager at Pizza Express, Portsmouth Gun Wharf, recently hosted a visit from Havant Consortia Higher Diploma in Hospitality students, and had a lot to say about how impressive this future workforce is turning out to be. She says: “They were more knowledgeable and interested than other students. You could tell when I was telling them something they had learnt in class because their ears just seemed to pick up and you could see that they already understood a little of what I was explaining.”
“When it came to looking at customer service and real complaints and compliments from customers they already knew what to do and had some great ideas. They definitely had more acute customer service skills than I was expecting,” she says.
As an employer, Claire has found working with the Diploma rewarding and hopes to encourage others in the business to get involved. As she is already studying part-time for a PGCE and has extensive experience working in the industry, Claire is planning on taking up a possible teaching role next year.
She said: “Gerry [Gerry Shurman, Havant Consortium] is always very enthusiastic about the Diploma in Hospitality. It’s nice that I can be involved in making it real to them.”
Although work-related learning is about much more than providing work experience, this is another area in which Claire intends to contribute.
She said: “Pizza Express already does a lot through our Schools Curriculum Programme but it’s also really nice to take on these older students – they really are so interested.”
“We already do work experience placements for other students and so are preparing to take on those who are studying for the Diploma. Personally, I now find it easier to plan for work experience from a business perspective, there is a lot to consider but in the past we have had placements that are so good we have offered them a job at the end of their two weeks.”
To find out how you can become involved in a consortium in your area, or explore other ways of contributing the Diploma in Hospitality, please visit our website www.hospitalitydiploma.co.uk.
23.02.2010