The 5* London Marriott Hotel County Hall today announces growth of its partnershipwith leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust, providing training and training opportunities for teenagers keen to develop a career within the hospitality industry.
2012 saw youth unemployment reach a record high, over 1.2m inside the UK. The Prince’s Trust and Marriott hotels has been working together nationally, to offer opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters and the London Marriott Hotel County Hall hotel has recently taken on two employees from The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme.
Located within the heart of Westminster the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has worked with The Prince’s Trust and its Fairbridge programme since 2011, supporting the ‘Employ Me’ course which offers disadvantaged youngsters the chance to realize an insight into the area of labor. The course concentrates on key employability skills for children who would not have access to education, employment or training with work experience opportunities in quite a number hospitality roles including front of house, housekeeping and food and beverage.
The London Marriott Hotel County Hall ‘Housekeeping Challenge’ is a piece experience activity, enabling teens to place hospitality theory into practice. The hotel’s Executive Housekeeper Vince Castronovo briefs students at the features, facilities and steps all for preparing a room fit to the 5* standard for guests. The adolescents then give you the chance to go back a ‘distressed’ room back to its perfect state. Their efforts are filmed and evaluated by the manager Housekeeper before the gang is then offered the opportunity to undertake five hours of supervised work experience on the hotel in a department in their choice with a purpose to then securing a freelance of employment to further develop their careers. So far the London Marriott Hotel County Hall has held threeHousekeeping Challenges offering career, support and coaching to twenty youngsters with ambitions to double this support in 2013.
Manuel da Costa and Jonathan Zepeda are two teens who’ve taken part within the ‘Employ Me’ programme on the London Marriott Hotel County Hall.
Sixteen-year-old Manuel da Costa from Waterloo began with the Fairbridge Programme by joining the math and English courses. Manuel then joined the London Marriott HotelCounty Hall as component to the ‘Employ Me’ course working with a team of Marriott chefs to benefit more about careers inside the culinary and hospitality industries. Following the course Manuel now works part-time within the hotel’s kitchen under the guidance of Executive Chef Gareth Bowen whilst continuing his studies and has ambitions to 1 day open his own restaurant.
Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Zepeda from Vauxhall is now employed on the hotel as a member of the Housekeeping team. Learning the best way to work as a team in addition to the most important elements of purchaser service and adhering to the hotels’ strict, 5* standards have enabled Jonathan to develop his self-confidence. He now has ambitions to develop his career to Housekeeping Supervisor and sooner or later work as a manager.
Commenting at the partnership, Theresa Maw General Manager for the London Marriott Hotel County Hall said, “It is really inspiring to look youngsters realise their career ambitions with the guidance and support of both the team on the hotel and on the Prince’s Trust. As a Marriott hotel we’re committed to ‘give something back’ and dealing directly with the local people to support and develop the potential for those keen to develop a career within the hospitality industry.”
Alex Dimsdale, Director of Human Resources for the London Marriott Hotel County Hall added: “We have partnered with The Prince’s Trust since 2011 and feature been overwhelmed with the passion, commitment and professionalism of the scholars that we’ve got worked with. The Housekeeping Challenge have been developed specifically to practically realise this commitment and we glance forward to developing opportunities foreven more students in 2013.”
Dermot Finch, The Prince’s Trust Regional Director for the South added: “We are hugely grateful to the team on the London Marriott Hotel County Hall for the support and opportunities they’ve provided our teens.Working with an organization that has any such strong reputation means our kids have a chance to forge the beginning of a promising career with an industry leader. We glance forward to growing and developing this chance toeven more students in 2013 and beyond.”
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