Institute of Hospitality Chair tours catering facilities

Leicester College recently welcomed Martin Traynor OBE, Chair of the prestigious Institute of Hospitality, for a tour of its catering and hospitality course facilities at the Freemen’s Park Campus.

The Institute of Hospitality was established in 1938 and is now the world’s leading, award-winning, professional membership body for hospitality professionals around the globe.

Martin took up his new role earlier this year having completed five years as the Small Business Crown Representative at the Cabinet Office. Prior to that, he was Chair of the King Richard lll Visitor Centre Trust, Chair of The Forest Experience Ltd, Deputy Chair of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Group and Chief Executive of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, all following a successful career in hotel management.

Investment in new facilities

Martin’s tour of Leicester College followed a major refurbishment of the facilities and equipment this year for catering and hospitality students, including the training kitchen re-opening after a £217,000 redesign and refurbishment, part-funded by the Savoy Educational Trust.

The kitchens are used by around 260 students across 14 hospitality and catering programmes. They are now equipped with industry standard equipment and teaching tools for existing and future catering students including access controls and a networked smart screen to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Martin was accompanied on his tour by Leicester College’s Chair of Governors, Danielle Gillett; Shabir Ismail, Acting Principal/CEO; Nicky Randall, Programme Area Manager in Hospitality and Yvette Sexton, Director of Curriculum, Business, Enterprise, Computer Science, Travel & Hospitality.

Changing the perception of jobs in the industry

We spoke to Martin after his tour to find out more about the current state of the hospitality industry and how Leicester College students can find opportunities for a career in this evolving sector.

“Currently, there are around 89,000 vacancies in hospitality so there are plenty of opportunities to choose your career,” Martin explained. “Since Covid, hospitality has changed dramatically. Whereas restaurants were open seven days per week beforehand, rising costs have meant many are having to reduce to a five-day rota. This has required greater flexibility and an acceptance of change within the industry.

“The role of the Institute of Hospitality and others throughout the sector is to try and change the image of working in hospitality and catering. Traditionally, these entry-level jobs in hospitality were seen by some as gap year job or ones that could be done alongside other

jobs or courses, but now there is a wide range of different careers in catering and we need to explain to people that this is a valid career option, particularly in the higher quality end of the market which is perfect for aspiring students.

“The hospitality world is thinking differently – such as embracing technology to ease the pressure on front of house staff – and that is a reality in this changing world. Technology can bring efficiencies and result in more profitable businesses. As the next generation of hospitality staff already live in a digital world, it’s an exciting time!”

Centre of excellence

Commenting on his tour, Martin continued: “I was so impressed by the kitchen environment, and it was good to see the College investing in equipment and new technology. The Taste Restaurant was packed and that’s clearly a wonderful opportunity for young people to test their skills. There’s a tremendous team of high calibre staff here, with real life experience.

“I was also hugely impressed with the quality of facilities overall and the breadth of curriculum. Talking to staff and students, there’s a tremendous amount of good work going on here, from a focus on employer engagement with notable visits from the Harrods patisserie chef and an expert chocolatier, to working on employability skills such as customer service and greeting people, through to fully supporting students from different backgrounds and those with special needs by making the classes accessible to all.

“It’s the only college in the East Midlands that offers this breadth of facilities so for me, it’s a real centre of excellence. The College is absolutely critical to supplying people for the future of the hospitality industry.”

A fulfilling career in hospitality

“There are lots of opportunities out there in hospitality; you just need to decide what you want to do – from working in NHS kitchens to 5-star hotels. With these qualifications and experiences, employers will look favourably on Leicester College students, so the College is a very good foundation for helping students towards the next phase of their career in hospitality,” concluded Martin.

As a leading provider of hospitality and catering qualifications in the East Midlands, Leicester College gives aspiring culinary students high-quality training to meet future sector demands, preparing them for a smooth transition into the catering industry by working in professional kitchens, including Leicester College’s award-winning Taste Restaurant. Find out more about Leicester College’s Catering and Hospitality courses.