Introduction

There’s never a dull moment in education. April sees the start of a new year for the Diploma project and our focus is on planning how we will achieve the deliverables outlined in our business plan and prioritising various activities so they meet the needs of all stakeholders in our sector.

We will be carrying out a review of the Principal Learning between now and March 2011.  After a year of teaching the Principal Learning, your opinion is invaluable and greatly welcomed.

Over the coming year, we will continue to build on our portfolio of Specialist Learning and increase the specialist qualifications on the Additions Specialist Learning catalogue.  version 11, which will be published on 24 May, and will include two new level 1  qualifications - Certificate in General Cookery and Certificate in General Hospitality.

Gateway 4 results are now available on the DCSF website.  Hospitality currently has around 150 consortia ready to deliver the Diploma in September 2010.  Following the results of Gateway 4, we will have another 39 consortia delivering in 2011, bringing the total number of consortia to almost 200. 

Many Hospitality Diploma teachers and learners will be preparing for the first round of work experience over the next few weeks.  Businesses are looking forward to receiving Diploma learners and showing them their business and providing them with the experience to help them succeed in their studies.  This month, we look at contract catering, not always in the forefront of the industry, but often present in schools and colleges and many local non-hospitality businesses.  Contract catering could potentially offer many opportunities for work experience.

And if you haven’t already registered for our Hospitality Diploma showcase event on 12 May in central London, it’s still not too late.  For further details read below.  We look forward to seeing you then.

Heather Taylor

Diploma in Hospitality Manager

Education

Diploma showcase event – 12 May 2010, central London

Practitioners involved in the delivery of the Hospitality Diploma are invited to the Hospitality Diploma showcase event on 12 May at the Hyatt Regency London – the Churchill, which takes place from 5pm to 8.30pm. 

It’s a great opportunity to meet employers, other practitioners and prospective partners from your local area and learn from the personal experiences of other employers and practitioners who will explain how the Diploma has been for them, the challenges they faced and how they overcame
them.

Click here for further details and to register.

Read more


View from a Hospitality Diploma champion

Michael Gray, general manager, Hyatt Regency London – the Churchill, is one of the first Hospitality Diploma champions, ardently championing the new qualification.  He shares his own personal experience and thoughts.

“The Diploma in Hospitality is the perfect solution to a constant problem that faces
every business in our sector. Whether the business is small or large, grand or
homely, hotel or facility management company, restaurant or club, pub or leisure
park or major events centre - there are not enough “locally grown" staff and
teams to fill all our vacancies."

Read more

Work Experience in the Wigan Local Authority Consortia

Many Hospitality Diploma teachers and learners will be preparing for the first round of work experience which will take place over the next few weeks   Gerry Bamber, lead practitioner from the Wigan Local Authority Consortia, explains what this entails for them.

Read more here

Regional Line of Learning Networks for Hospitality

Regional line of learning network meetings form part of the Learning and Skills Service (LSIS) 14-19 workforce support offer and are an excellent way to meet up with other hospitality practitioners in your region.  Each regional network has its own online community where members can share resources, ask questions of their peers and see the details of forthcoming meetings and book to attend meetings.

How do I join a network meeting?

If you value the opportunity to meet other hospitality practitioners in your area and would like to share experiences, best practice and resources, follow the link below and make a booking -http://www.diploma-support.org/communities/networkmeeting.

Read more here

Business

It’s a great opportunity to meet teachers, consortia and other prospective partners from your local area and learn from the personal experiences of other employers and practitioners who will explain how the Diploma has been for them, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them.

Click here for further details and to register.

Cambridgeshire consortia gets boost from Q Hotels

Q Hotels which has 11 Diploma champions are supporting the Cambridgeshire consortium so that they are ready and prepared to deliver the Hospitality Diploma from September 2010.

According to Karen Charlton, 14-19 Development Officer, Children & Young People’s Services, in St. Ives:  “David Henderson, general manager for our local Q Hotels has been a fantastic source of support.  He has been  involved in advising Diploma staff at planning meetings and we are now planning a training day at the hotel on April 21, focusing on the business and financial aspects of the industry, which David and his staff will lead.

“Such passion, support and commitment from David and his team is making all
the difference to the hard working teaching staff who are naturally a little apprehensive about the planning and delivery of this brand new qualification”

If you would like to play an active role in supporting the Hospitality Diploma, please contact Heather Taylor – heather.taylor@people1st.co.uk.