18 June
Foxes helps deliver conference hospitality
Students from Aurora Foxes gained valuable experience helping deliver hospitality at a national conference staged at one of Birmingham’s leading venues last week.
Fourteen current students joined two Foxes graduates, Josh and Jordan, who are currently working at the Hilton Metropole, to showcase their professionalism and capabilities on reception, in the kitchen, serving food and assisting delegates during the Natspec Conference. Natspec is an association for organisations that offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged 16 to 25.
The experience was made possible thanks to Foxes’ longstanding and valued relationship with the prestigious hotel chain which creates work placements and supports individuals with learning disabilities to launch successful careers in the company’s hotels.
Foxes Principal Mark Costello approached Natspec to see if Foxes could use their existing links with Hilton to co-deliver the event at the Metropole - and their response was very supportive.
The Foxes team was led by Zoe Furse, Hospitality Programme Lead; Vanessa Sowden, House Manager; and Head Chef Kayleigh Fugler. They oversaw Daniel, Charles, Ella, Hannah, Ruby, Holly, Ells, Alfie, Mo, Oliver, Sadie, Joe, Rebecca and Donna as they prepped for a formal delegates’ evening meal, organised and served refreshments and helped with room key collections and registration.
With the students working in shifts, staff from Foxes’ hotel team and care/house teams also attended to provide logistical support.
Zoe thanked Hilton and Natspec for giving the students the opportunity to demonstrate their professionalism, dedication and commitment to delivering excellence.
She said: “The partnership between Aurora Foxes and Hilton continues to provide meaningful opportunities showing just what can happen when education and industry combine.
“The students described the experience as the best two days they have had because of the confidence they have gained, the relationships they have built and the opportunities to develop their skills in a world class hotel environment.”
Operations Director Kim Welsh and Beeches and Boveridge Principal Lloyd Richards also attended the conference, which had among its keynote speakers the Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Education); and Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee.
