NVQ Training And The Welsh Assembly
Hotel Receptionist to Aid Assembly in European Funding Bid
A member of staff at one of North Wales’s premier hotels, who has caught the ‘learning bug,’ is to be featured in a Welsh Assembly Government brochure, as a part of its work in attempting to securing EU funding for the Principality.
Lorraine Szabo, who is the Head Receptionist at the Bryn Howel Hotel near Llangollen, will become one of only two case studies, showing how well European funding has been utilised in training for the workplace, following her successful completion of a number of NVQ courses at Deeside College in Connah’s Quay.
Mother of two Lorraine was employed as a team leader at a Wrexham drinks company when she made the decision to improve her employment prospects with a return to education 3 years ago.
She successfully completed National Vocational Qualifications level 1 and 2 in Food & Manufacturing in her spare time, before joining the staff at the Bryn Howel some 3 years ago.
“I am so grateful to David Sherrington of Deeside College who advised me on the best courses to follow whilst still in full time employment. In fact the College have been brilliant with me over the last few years and I’m just delighted to be able to thank them by being featured in this publication,” said Lorraine.
The Bryn Howel have been extremely supportive of Lorraine’s quest for knowledge, in conjunction with the College, and since joining the company she has successfully completed her NVQ Level Two’s in Customer Service and Front Office Skills (Reception) and has embarked on her Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision.
“When I started my first qualification I was extremely nervous and wondered if I could return to education. The course I’m currently studying will allow me to confidently apply for managerial roles within the Llangollen Hotels Group, something I never thought I would be able to do,” said Lorraine.
Deeside College’s David Sherrington, who has assessed Lorraine throughout her development said, “Lorraine is a fine example to people who want to improve and broaden their career options through work based further education courses.
Her confidence has grown with every qualification she has gained and this has enabled her career to develop.”
Lorraine’s training was funded through a European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 3 project called Catering for Change Wrexham. The project offers training and development opportunities to the Catering and Hospitality sector in the Wrexham area.
Carolyn Preece Senior Project Manager said, “Our workplace training for the hospitality industry started in 1995, and has grown to be the largest of this type of provision by any college in Wales. The benefits of the workplace training are clearly evident; individual staff are gaining qualifications through personal development, and the small businesses are retaining high quality, motivated staff who can provide excellent services to their customers."
" Lorraine is an excellent example of how staff and managers can develop and progress through training designed to meet the needs of small businesses . The Catering Academy we have developed is an excellent example of a college and the hospitality industry working together to deliver quality training in the workplace.” If you would like further information on the Catering & Hospitality Academy contact Carolyn Preece tel. 01244 831531 ext 4788