Routes into Leisure & Tourism (including Hospitality, Catering and Sport) www.ahkandm.ac.uk Introduction Leisure, tourism and catering industries are booming. Are you aware of the current career opportunities within these industries? This booklet tells you about the courses that are available in Kent and Medway to help you get qualified for a career in these fields. You can choose to do a short course to boost your Many of the courses on offer are current prospects or take a longer course to flexible and family friendly, and become qualified in something new. Before students often take a year or two out you know it, you could become a qualified before taking a second, or even a chef, a professional football coach or a tour third course. Of course, this means manager! you’re always improving your career and pay prospects. Once you’ve Training in these industries will not only prepare read through the booklet and have you for an exciting job, but will also teach you an idea what you would like to do, valuable “soft skills” that you can use in any take a look at the progression maps industry. Being able to interact well with clients, at the back; Travel and Tourism, effectively manage your staff or business in Hospitality and Catering and Sport addition to multi-tasking and working in teams each have their own map. These are all skills you can develop now and carry will tell you the courses that are with you throughout your career. available and where. Looking at this map will also help you see what type of employment or further courses they can lead onto. Please seek advice before enrolling on a course to make sure it is the best one for you. www.ahkandm.ac.uk 1 Which Career? You may not have what it takes to be a professional cricketer, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a career in sports. Maybe you are not interested in baking cakes, but being a butcher is more your style? There are many options within the hospitality, catering, tourism and sports industries. Have a look at these examples to get your creative juices flowing and then chat with your careers advisor: CATERING Please see Hospitality & Catering map in the back of this booklet to get started Baker Bakers work in plant bakeries (with machinery and production lines), in- store bakeries (usually supermarkets) and craft bakeries (small shops). Butcher (retail) Retail butchers buy stock, cut and bone meat, and serve customers at the counter. Catering/ They manage staff recruitment, training, organise shifts and breaks, Restaurant Manager and keep staff motivated. Chef Chefs are responsible for the preparation and cooking of food, using a variety of cooking techniques. Chef de Partie/ The person in charge of a section of the kitchen is known as a Section Chef chef de partie, or section chef and is responsible to the sous chef or under- chef. Commis Chef A chef in training who works in each area of the kitchen and assists with food prep. Head Chef/ The head chef is responsible for running the entire kitchen, Maitre de Cuisine monitoring and maintaining the quality of food the kitchen produces. Tasks include gourmet menu planning, dealing with suppliers, managing the budget and organising staff. Kitchen Supervisor/ They organise and oversee the work done by their team, plan menus, Manager order food and keep control of the budget by minimising waste and maximising efficiency. Sommelier An expert in all elements of wine service who advises on wine-food pairing as well as history on particular vintages. Sous Chef The sous chef has experience in every department and can run a large kitchen on behalf of the head chef if necessary. Waiter/Waitress They serve customers by taking orders, serving food and preparing tables. 2 www.ahkandm.ac.uk Case Study 1 SAMANTHA I left school at 16 with my GCSEs because after so many years in school, I realised that academic work just wasn’t what I enjoyed. I decided to train for a job I really wanted. I have always been attracted to catering and hospitality because you can do anything from cookery to hotel management: there are loads of jobs available and the skills you learn in one area can also help you in another area. I don’t think I could ever run out of interesting job options. I took the Professional Chef’s course straight after I left school because I’ve always enjoyed cooking: it’s challenging because you have to be creative, organised, and able to cope under pressure. I’m currently working towards my Advanced Craft qualification which will enhance my career prospects at a supervisory level while working in a nice restaurant in town. The whole process will have taken me 3 years by the time I finish and I can go straight into a kitchen as a chef or section head. If I want, I could even take a job with a tour operator or a cruise and ferry operator and work abroad. I feel I’ve got lots of options and decisions ahead of me, but I also feel secure in the knowledge that I’m learning a profession and doing something I love. The case studies in this booklet are fictional examples based on real students. www.ahkandm.ac.uk 3 Which Career? TRAVEL AND TOURISM Please see Travel & Tourism map in the back of this booklet to get started Air Cabin Crew Air cabin crew, also known as flight attendants, are responsible for the care and safety of air passengers during flights. Air Traffic Controller Air traffic controllers monitor and direct air traffic in order to maintain a safe distance between aircraft. Some controllers regulate airport traffic, while others regulate flights between airports. They use both radar and their vision. Airport Information Employed by the airport, they provide information on flights and Agent services, direct passengers, make announcements and handle complaints. Events Manager Events managers plan, co-ordinate and publicise promotional, educational, corporate, sporting and social events. Holiday Centre Worker Holiday centre workers are employed by caravan parks, holiday centres or camps in roles such as waiters/waitresses, cooks, chefs, counter service staff and group leaders. Passenger Liner Passenger liner stewards attend to customer service needs on Steward board ship. They will usually work in one particular area of the cruise liner, such as the cabin or bar area. Resort Representative They represent the tour operator and aim to ensure the success of clients’ holidays (usually abroad). Travel Agency Sales They advise clients and sell them holidays and travel. Much Consultant of their time is spent dealing with clients in person, so agents must be good listeners and familiar with a variety of locations and packages. Travel Courier Travel couriers are responsible for making sure that travel arrangements for parties of holiday-makers run smoothly. Tour Guide They escort visitors around cities, historic buildings, gardens, religious sites, museums and other places of interest and may sometimes even be actors or actresses who become a particular character to do so. Tour Manager Tour managers work for tour operators and are responsible for organising and accompanying tours. They make sure all the travel arrangements for a group of tourists go as planned and that the accommodation, meals and service are satisfactory. Tourist Information They provide information, in person, in writing and on the Centre Assistant telephone, in order to help customers make the most of their visit to the local area. 4 www.ahkandm.ac.uk HOSPITALITY Please see Hospitality & Catering map in the back of this booklet to get started. B & B Owner Bed and Breakfast owners provide accommodation in their home or nearby residence. They must be good hosts and be able to do everything from housekeeping and cooking to giving tourist advice and managing finances. Director of The Director of Human Resources is responsible for staffing qualified personnel; ensuring Human Resources employment statute compliance; overseeing all aspects of wage, benefit, worker’s compensation unemployment; training program direction, implementation and administration; and employee relations coaching, counselling and discipline. Director of Sales They supervise and train all Sales Staff, including conducting performance evaluations; work with the General Manager to ensure business goals are met; and maintain good relations with local government and local companies. Travel may be part of this job. Hotel General Manager They oversee the running of hotels and are responsible for managing their staff in areas such as food and refreshments, accommodation and amenities, entertainment and conference facilities. Hotel Receptionist They make reservations and cancellations, allocate rooms and hand out keys to guests or porters. They may also handle financial transactions and book excursions. Hotel Sales Consultant They meet with individual and corporate clients to ensure their needs are catered for, including booking conferences, banquets and other business activities. They also develop relations with current clients and attract new ones. Housekeeper Manager They are responsible for organising the housekeeping staff in a hotel to ensure that all rooms are kept clean, tidy and welcoming. SPORT Agent Sports agents negotiate playing or coaching contracts, work out product endorsement fees, and provide financial, investment, and tax advice. They may also offer personal and legal advice to clients. Fitness Instructor They teach correct fitness methods in classes such as aerobics, yoga, spinning and kick-boxing. They plan classes and make sure facilities are safe. They may also encourage participants to continue with exercise and healthy living. General Managers They coordinate the activities of teams and athletic departments. They are responsible for personnel decisions involving coaches, athletes, and support staff; and they often supervise employees who manage sports facilities.