Luxury Cotswold venues launch Cotswold Star hospitality academy

A number of luxury Cotswold venues have teamed up with Gloucestershire College to launch the Cotswold Star Academy for young people aiming for a career in the hospitality sector.

Launching this summer, the academy will offer 10 places on a 12-month training programme for hospitality supervisors and chefs de partie to work with hotels, restaurants and event venues including the Calcot Collection, Farncombe Estate, Ellenborough Park and the Lucky Onion Group.

The training programme is being supported by the Savoy Educational Trust and Creed Foodservice. It will enable each ‘star' to gain qualifications, experience and skills while working at the venues, as well as off-the-job training through online learning, work shadowing, masterclasses and seminars at each venue, as well as a Chefs' Forum.

Jo O'Connell, head of hospitality at Gloucestershire College, said: "This is a very important initiative and the college will be playing its part to increase the visibility of careers in the hospitality industry and support the Cotswold Star Academy."

Oliver Williams, general manager of Ellenborough Park, said: "Ellenborough Park and the team are always on the lookout for passionate and exceptional people to join our workforce, and our ongoing mission to encourage young people to seek out hospitality as a career path ties in perfectly with this fabulous and unique programme developed by Gloucestershire College."

Pat Sparkes, head of human resources for the Calcot Collection, added: "Whether gaining an insight into the operations at Calcot, Barnsley House and its Village Pub or the Painswick, students will be guided by a collection of boutique hotels at the forefront of the UK hotel scene. We will be on the look-out for personalities and attributes suited to our industry which has people at its heart."

Interested applicants can send their CV and covering letter to jo.o'connell@gloscol.ac.uk.

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