It has been a fantastic year for the Hospitality and Catering department at Eastleigh College, with an impressive array of industry awards and achievements for both staff and students.
Since the refurbishment of the college training restaurant into a modern and chic establishment, the department has gone from strength to strength. Submerging the students into the world of hospitality, they have moulded the next generation of chefs, waiters, managers and more.
In June 2016 the department, which consists of Sue Lyons, Richard Carter, Lisa Hatherell, Greg Cheeseman and Katie Rose-Taylor, was honoured with a prestigious Pearson Teaching Award, selected from thousands of nominations across the UK. The team achieved a Silver Award for FE Team of the Year, and attended the grand finale as part of Britain’s Classroom Heroes, which aired on BBC One in October 2016.
But they didn’t stop there… lecturer Greg Cheeseman was awarded Best Chef Lecturer by the Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE), who also awarded the department another accolade for ‘Hospitality Team of the Year’ in 2017.
The passion and commitment the team has for teaching Hospitality and Catering is clearly reflected in the achievements of the students. Level 3 Food and Beverage Supervision student, Carmen Darmanin, stole the show at the Institute of Hospitality awards this year, walking away with the title of ‘Front of House Student of the Year.’
The academic year has finished with an exceptionally high note for the team, after attending the Wessex Salon Culinaire competition at Brockenhurst College. A team of over 15 students brought home 31 medals across Merits, Bronze, Silver and Gold, with every student winning an award in their category.
We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year, and with such close relationships with industry-renowned chefs and local businesses, we’re sure it won’t disappoint!
If you’d like to have a slice of the cake for yourself, please call 023 8091 1299 to find out more about the courses offered by our award-winning Hospitality and Catering team.
One of Eastleigh College's governors, Councillor Judith Grajewski, has been appointed Local Authority Director of Solent LEP. This Local Enterprise Partnership brings the business community together with the further education and higher education sector to ensure a prosperous and sustainable economic future in the region.
Eastleigh College has been awarded AoC Beacon Status in two areas, in recognition of its excellent support for students, and for the College’s work with employers, providing professional training and delivering skills to help grow the economy.