Business leaders and specially invited guests from across Europe and Lancashire enjoyed hotel hospitality with a difference when pupils from a Burnley school took over the running of the townʼs Holiday Inn Express for the day.
Students run hotel using hospitality and language skills
Students aged 13-16 from Sir John Thursby Community College were given the task of running the award- winning 102-bedroom hotel including hosting a major business lunch, as part of a unique Business In the Community educational partnership between Burnleyʼs Holiday Inn Express and the school.
The project, the only scheme of its kind in the UK, proved such a success when it was first staged last year that the College were invited back to run the hotel again. But there was a new twist: For the first time, the teenagers were able to use their language skills in French and German.
On the day, pupils running the hotel reception, housekeeping and catering departments were joined by two teams of language students who were tasked with planning overseas business travel arrangements for the newly promoted Burnley Football Club team. Communicating in French and German, the students negotiated room rates directly with the InterContinental hotels in Marseille and Frankfurt. They also planned travel and logistics for outbound business guests.
Support of local companies
Paul Callingham, Managing Director of Starboard Hotels said: “This inspirational project could not be achieved without the support of the companies operating in and around the North West, who attended the lunch.”
“Throughout the day we provided students with hands on working experience at the Holiday Inn Express and a taster of how language is used in business. Languages in the workplace are an increasingly relevant skill in the hospitality sector and this event showcased the need many employers in Lancashire have for language skills in their workplace.”
Pupils prepared and hosted a special European themed lunch for top foreign and north-west business leaders, including local dignitaries and tourism bosses, conducting the lunch in all three languages.
Securing the best travel packages
All the students taking part in the project had to go through a formal job application and interview process before being selected to work at the hotel. The teams of language students then competed to see which was most successfully able to use their language and communication skills to secure the best travel packages and prices in France and Germany and for foreign visitors to the UK.
Experiencing the world of work
Head teacher, David Burton, said, “It is fabulous for our students to work with the Holiday Inn Express as our Business in the Community partner. Last year, our students ran the hotel for a day and received fantastic reviews. This year they also looked at the importance of foreign languages and communication in the hotel to make sure every guest had the best possible experience. This partnership is helping students to gain experience in the world of work and many of them now work at the hotel. We are determined that every child gets the best opportunity in life to enjoy work or further education and this partnership is enabling that to happen.”
Demonstrating the opportunities open to students
Holiday Inn Express General Manager Kerian Barnes is delighted to be hosting the project. “This yearʼs ʻBusiness in the communityʼ was the most challenging project so far undertaken in partnership with the Sir john Thursby community college and our colleagues in Europe. Languages in the workplace are a very relevant and current topic in hospitality, travel and tourism and play such an important role now in the development and economic growth of business.
“Burnley, named Britainʼs Most Enterprising Area in the Governmentʼs coveted BIS awards, has established itself as a world leader in aviation technology. Having conversational levels in a secondary language is giving students a competitive advantage and is putting them at the forefront of job seekers. As a key service provider within Burnley, the Holiday Inn Express is able to demonstrate the opportunities open to students with language proficiency today,” explains Kerian. “In fact following last yearʼs event we actually recruited two of the students to join our team. They are now valued members of our part time staff.”
Holiday Inn Express is at 55 Pendle Way, Burnley BB12 0TJ
01282 855955
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