Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa recently celebrated the
success of trainees from Falkirk Council's Pre Apprenticeship
Programme. Seven 16 and 17 year old Council funded trainees have
experienced life at the hotel for 26 weeks, with additional
training commissioned from Positive Qualities Ltd. The Programme
enables trainees to develop professional skills aimed at nurturing
hospitality talent in youngsters who were previously unemployed,
with little or no experience of the world of work.
Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa, part of the UK's largest
privately owned hotel group was approached earlier this year to
pilot the collaboration between Falkirk Council and Positive
Qualities Ltd, Grangemouth. The Council were keen that youngsters
would have a range of opportunities available to them across
different hotel departments such as conference and banqueting,
housekeeping, leisure, and catering to help determine a future
career direction..
Brett Ingle, General Manager at Macdonald Inchyra Hotel &
Spa, commented: "All seven trainees have been committed to this
scheme from day one. They have integrated well within our team at
the hotel and have all made brilliant progress.
"We've been so impressed we're now hoping to offer them all paid
positions, and to support them in completing a Modern
Apprenticeship."
Leigh Ann Jackson, Employment and Training Co-ordinator at
Falkirk Council, said: "Friday is all about celebrating the success
of the Programme. We're delighted by how well our first intake of
trainees have done, training in a variety of areas within the
hotel. Skills have been developed in communication, team work, time
management and customer service. The seven trainees have worked
hard to achieve their Bronze Employability Award, a great platform
for this approach to grow sustainably."
Liz Hoskin, Chief Radiator at Positive Qualities Ltd, added: "We
are pleased to have worked with Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa
and Falkirk Council on this pilot scheme. Based on the success of
the first seven trainees we look forward to discussing with Falkirk
Council the opportunity to get involved in a further Programme from
January 2013."
The Bronze Employability Award with additional training from
Positive Qualities Ltd is made available to young people through
funding committed by Falkirk Council as part of Backing Falkirk's
Future..
Located in the heart of central Scotland just 30 minutes from
Edinburgh, the 4-star hotel nestled within 44 acres of serene
grounds underwent an extensive £4 million refurbishment in
2011.
