Bristol’s leading four-star hotel has once again thrown its weight behind the ever-popular apprentice scheme by appointing a new member of the staff.
With more and more young people now gaining qualifications and jobs via apprenticeships, the appointment of Jasmine Silsbury at DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol City Centre is an excellent example of the scheme in action.
Amid uncertainty on whether EU nationals will be able to work in the UK following the referendum vote to leave Europe, has meant venues like DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol City Centre is stepping up its search for the next wave of home-grown talent to work in the hospitality sector.
Studying a Business Administration course at City of Bristol College, Jasmine, who lives in Kingswood, spends most of her time at the Redcliffe Way-based hotel, where she is currently helping the sales team get ready for the festivities and New Year celebrations.
She is also involved with handling room reservations for tourists and business people visiting Bristol and also helping arrange conferences and meetings for the growing number of firms that need first-class facilities.
And because she is ‘work-based’ means her lecturers will be making regular visits to assess her progress and see how she is getting on. The relationship between the college and hotel means the four-star venue provides on-hands experience and training for those studying new qualifications.
Jasmine said: “I’m much more hands on when it comes to studying and learning so an apprenticeship was by far the best path for me to take. It’s quite full on at the moment as we build up to Christmas and New Year, plus there’s lots of day-to-day things to deal with.
“The team here have been very supportive and I’m really enjoying it.”
At a time when there is a shortfall of people considering hospitality as a career, James Headford, HR manager at the hotel believes more young people should consider apprenticeships as a first stepping stone towards a rewarding and fulfilling career.
He said: “We have a clear ethos of partnership and innovation. By providing live, hands-on experience in the hospitality sector gives a great foot in the door for those wanting to progress.
“It’s also vital that potential employers provide opportunities like this to the next generation and we’re fully committed to give young people like Jasmine a chance to prove themselves.
“At a time when the hospitality industry needs to find thousands of people to cope with rapid expansion and market demand the apprentice scheme works really well for us.
“Many of the management here at the hotel started off their career as an apprentice so proves that if you are dedicated enough, the rewards are there to be taken.
“Those entering the industry at a relatively junior level can quite easily work their way up really fast because employers want people that know their business.”