Students return to 'Super-Marriott #2' after long lockdown

: Created: 04 June 2021

This year’s cohort were chosen from dozens of other hopefuls after senior managers from the hotel group conducted speed-interviews. They were offering our students work-shadowing roles in General Management, Sales, Marketing, Finance, HR and Events, Engineering, Culinary and Food and Beverage. The aim of the exercise is to help launch meaningful career opportunities in the hotel, events and tourism sectors - particularly after the industries were hit very hard during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Multi Property Director of Human Resources at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Alex Dimsdale has been working with Employer Experience Officer, Sarmin Islam to create relevant and highly beneficial positions within the Hotel. The main focus being on how the students’ work contributes to offering guests a five-star experience and make them aware of all the routes into becoming senior and executive managers.

Alex said: “Last year, we created a unique partnership with London South East Colleges enabling us to open the doors of opportunity to those who made it through to this stage of the project. Just days after the pilot project was complete, the UK went into a full lockdown which devasted the hotel industry worldwide. Happily, we are now back on the road to economic recovery and I’m delighted that we can pick up where we left off just fourteen months ago.”

Sarmin said: “Each individual student has been given a chance to take on responsibility and show us what they can do. They have worked alongside experienced professionals who have donated their valuable time and expert knowledge, guiding them throughout the week in a variety of different disciplines. It is wonderful how this group of students forfeited a five day break in such beautiful weather to take advantage of this opportunity; they will all go back to College next week with greater insight and vision, and above all, much more confidence and optimism. We are all delighted with the results so far and will be collaborating further to offer more opportunities for progression throughout the rest of this academic year.”

The students began their week with an induction session in one of the Hotel’s function rooms given by Alex. In it they were taught about the Group’s ethos, house rules and expectations, health and safety regulations and emergency procedures before getting down to the essentials such as the hotel’s history (the first hotel opened in 1957 by J.Willard Marriott - the Group now owns and runs over 6,700 properties and outlets), its ethos and core values: Serving our world, Putting people first, Pursuing excellence, Embracing change, and Acting with integrity.

Later in the day, the students and Sarmin took part in an extensive quiz covering everything they went over during the day. Much fun was had and our very own Lois Buckland, a returnee Level 3 Travel and Tourism student specially requested from last year’s cohort came out on top after a fiercely fought contest.

“I was so looking forward to walking through the doors of this wonderful hotel again,” said Lois,“It has been a very long and difficult year for us all and it’s great being back. I want to follow up on the role I played last year and add to it some experience of sales and marketing procedures.”

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Other students taking part have also lots to say about their own personal work experience challenges last week. Here’s just a few:

Nikita Gubta, 19, is a Level 2 Business student working closely with Human Resources and also in the Finance department. She said: “I’ve been looking forward to coming here and getting started since first applying for the opportunity. I’ve learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed it - it has given me such a lift and a much-needed confidence boost.”

Lucy Durell, 19, (another specially requested returnee) is a Hospitality Level 3 student hoping to become a professional pastry chef. She said: “I’ve been given the biggest welcome back here and, just as last year, the staff are so supportive, amiable, polite and helpful. The Marriott is a great employer and I would dearly love a full-time job here when I complete college.”

Jake Wallace, 16, is studying Hospitality Level 2. He said: “I want to become a professional chef and have much bigger ambitions to be restaurant owner one day. This opportunity ties in very nicely with my plans to obtain as much actual working experience as I possibly can. Employers want to see that you have the ability to apply the skills acquired at College to the workplace, as well as having that valuable on-the-job knowledge too”.

Paloma McDonald-Smith, 20, is yet another returnee from last year’s cohort hoping to capitalise on her first experience in the Hotel’s Maintenance department. Studying Level 3 Electrical Installations at our Bromley Campus, Paloma has found her skills are both relevant and applicable to the jobs and functions required by the hotel. She said: “From testing, fixing and replacing light fixtures and other fittings, boiler and valve reading, testing swimming pool acidity, checking showers and taps for legionnaires disease, replacing TVs, lamps, door locks and much more besides - it’s all part of the job in the hotel. I’ve also got involved in the ordering of parts, estimating costs and budgeting - I just love it.”

Ashanti Jamieson, 18, studies Level 2 Business Management and Finance and would like to find an apprenticeship after progressing to and completing her level 3 course at the College next year. She said: “I’m very much a ‘people person’ and working in this sector would suit me down to the ground. I jumped at the chance to come here this week and learn as much as I possibly can. What I’m taking away with me will be so advantageous when I’m applying for work - it’s something really expedient to add to my CV.”

Analise Savino, 17, studies Level 2 Travel and Tourism. She was very keen to embrace every opportunity this programme would bring and is impressed with how much she has learnt in just one week. She said: “I’ve experienced quite a learning curve working in the reception and events departments. I would love to work front-of-house in the hotel and hospitality trade. It’s a great way of being able to be sociable and using my people skills. This type of work really brings out the best in me."

If you think you have what it takes to become a professional and build a successful career in the hotel, tourism and leisure industries, we’d like to hear from you. We have a great range of courses to get you started. Apply now.