Students Inspired to cook up careers in hospitality

Students Connor Young (right), Drew Bowman and Rhiannon Constantine are all on the Inspire course. Photo: Colin Walls

Launched in 2016, Inspire delivers public services such as libraries and adult and community learning for Nottinghamshire County Council.

Hospitality and Ccatering is just one of the opportunities offered by Inspire Learning for young people aged 16-24 at its specialist centres in Mansfield and Sutton-in- Ashfield.

Students can study on the level one introduction to hospitality course, which includes practical cooking sessions where they can develop their culinary skills, or the level two City & Guilds diploma in hospitality services, based at both the Mansfield’s Myplace Centre and the Eastbourne Centre in Sutton in Ashfield, where a fully-equipped commercial kitchen prepares young people for an industry-standard working environment.

As part of the programme, all students are able to further their learning through community placements and individual work experience.

Connor Young, one of the students on course who is from Mansfield, said, “I really enjoyed the level one course in Mansfield,

“I’m not very confident, and the staff from Inspire and the introductory course really helped me.

“I’m now studying a City and Guilds Diploma in hospitality and catering and I really look forward to developing my practical skills each Wednesday when we get the chance to get hands-on experience in a proper kitchen.

“When I’ve completed my course, I’d really like to do an apprenticeship and eventually start own my own business.”

Progression opportunities from these courses can include employment, apprenticeship or a traineeship.

Simon Cook, Inspire Learning’s study programme manager, commented; “Our young people benefit not only from quality education and training to prepare them for work, but from our commitment to them as an individual.

“The care and attention they receive from our experienced tutors regarding issues that affect their everyday lives is second to none.

“It is our staff’s determination to address these barriers to learning that enables our young people to achieve”.

Other tailored study programmes offered by Inspire Learning including health and social care, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, employability skills, construction, and ICT.

For more information about study programmes and traineeships with Inspire Learning, got to www.inspireculture.org.uk/learning or call 0115 8044363.