Marriott focuses on youth development with hotel school partnership

14-Mar-2014 - Last updated on 26-Apr-2021 at 19:08 GMT

The Edge Hotel School's students took part in a number of activities at the five-star Marriott Hotel County Hall

One of Marriott’s flagship London properties has partnered with the UK’s first hotel school in a fully functioning hotel for a series of training workshops which the hotel group hopes will help to inspire the industry’s future leaders.

The partnership, between Marriott Hotel County Hall and the Edge Hotel School, saw degree students take part in a number of activities at the five-star property, including a full show-round of the property, mock interviews with the in-house HR team and talks with general manager Theresa Maw, food & beverage director Sebastian Schweitzer and guest relations manager Rebecca Burton.

The South Bank venue first took interest in the hotel school last year, after Luke Teeling became the first student from the Essex-based Wivenhoe House to complete an internship at the South Bank venue.

“It’s a genuine pleasure to be working alongside such a prestigious educational establishment and contributing to the development of the industry’s future leaders,” said County Hall's general manager Maw. “Our partnership will include the opportunity for students to intern and benefit from work experience at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall – we’re looking forward to welcoming them for many years to come.

“We are committed to providing our staff with the support they need to be the best they can be, and we’re looking forward to applying the same encouragement to the Edge Hotel School’s students.”

Student takeover

The next stage of the inspiring initiative takes place in August, when the hotel’s HR director Alex Dimsdale will visit the students where they are usually based, at the Wivenhoe House hotel in Essex, to deliver a series of tutorials.

Other activities will include playing back interviews shot at the hotel, for students to express thoughts on their own development. Long-term, students will also be encouraged to apply for internships and work placements at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall.

As the first hotel school of its kind in the UK, the Edge Hotel School equips its degree students with the professional and managerial skills, as well as the academic theory, to prepare them for their future careers as leaders in the industry.

Offering students a fast-track, two-year intensive Hotel Management degree from the University of Essex, it allows them to experience the realities of life working in the hospitality industry.'

'Fantastic experience'

Speaking of the Marriott link-up, aspiring F&B professional and Edge Hotel School student, Stuart Watson from Telford, said: “The show-round was very interesting and it was especially useful to be able to ask the hotel’s team lots of questions. The presentations and talks were also insightful - the day was a fantastic experience.”

Christoph Hoffmann, Vice Principal at the Edge Hotel School, added: “We’re very appreciative of the time and effort that the London Marriott Hotel County Hall team has put into the foundations of our relationship.

“Meeting different personnel from the hotel helps our students develop an understanding of how their careers can progress in the industry.”