Apex Hotels, in partnership with Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh, has developed a ‘live centre for hospitality excellence’. The initiative will provide QMU students on the BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management Degree with an enhanced level of practical experience.
From this Octobert, 32 students will undertake three practical units at Apex Hotels European Hotel at Haymarket, Edinburgh within the areas of front of house, food & beverage and housekeeping. Successful completion will form part of the students overall marks for Year One.
Undertaking these practical units will give students a ‘real life’ hotel experience to complement their degree course and will further develop their knowledge in preparation for a career in the hospitality industry. QMU students will have the opportunity to take on part-time employment at Apex Hotels following successful completion of their practical units. Working in a fully operational commercial environment, the students will be required to achieve the same high standards of customer service delivered by current Apex employees.
Students will develop their knowledge and skills further as they move through their four year degree course by learning about Apex support functions such as sales, marketing, revenue, finance and human resource management.
Apex Hotels has engaged the services of Lynn Abernethy, formally of Sodexo, who will co-ordinate the students learning and completion of the practical units. Lynn brings with her a wealth of Hospitality experience.
Norman Springford, Apex Hotels Chairman, commented:
“We are entering into a new and exciting long term partnership with Queen Margaret University that will provide a unique opportunity for the next generation of hospitality students to develop their professional and practical hospitality skills during their degree course. By offering this additional ‘real life’ experience to students, it is our wish that they emerge from their degree course with not only a professional qualification but with valuable hotel experience. We believe that this combination will increase the number of capable graduates ready to become the future leaders of the hospitality industry.”
Trevor Laffin, Head of Division of Business, Enterprise and Management at QMU, stated:
“This collaboration between Apex Hotels and QMU demonstrates a ground-breaking relationship in Scotland which will benefit our students from the very outset of their studies through to graduation and beyond. This will be a unique learning experience for them, allowing them to combine the theoretical and managerial aspects of their programme whilst gaining real life experience in a high quality hotel environment – and an experience that they will be able to add to their CVs in future. It demonstrates commitment by Apex to helping young people develop their careers in hospitality and a joint vision between QMU and Apex to develop highly skilled, effective and flexible workforce for the future of the Scottish hospitality industry.”
For further information, please contact Jo Harbisher