For the past 8 years Stratford-upon-Avon College has successfully delivered a Foundation Degree| in Hospitality Management| in collaboration with the University of West London. During their course, students work part time (up to 35 hours per week) within hospitality establishments across the Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon areas in order to gain experience and support themselves during their studies.

Since our students started their second year in September 2011 we have had a number of reasons to further celebrate their success with three students winning employee of the month and another being promoted to a supervisory position.

Andrew Strain|, who has worked for Holiday Inn Express for a number of years, was awarded Employee of the Month in October 2011 and has now been promoted to Front Office Manager at Holiday Inn Express Redditch. Tonia Ellis, course lecturer, confirms that “Andrew is a diligent student who has worked hard both at college at within the workplace to balance his previous role as a night manager with attending college. It is great to see that his professionalism and hard work has paid off”.

At Macdonald Alveston Manor two of our students were awarded Employee of the Month consecutively; in September this award went to Virginia Rafanomezantsoa| and in October to Victoire Toutain|. They have both progressed to the level of shift leader in just 9 months which is a great achievement for these students for whom English is their second language. Hilary Allen, Programme Manager, acknowledged “that only hard work and commitment to the job can lead to awards such as this being won. Both students have developed significantly since starting the course and its lovely to see them putting in to practice what they are learning at college”.

Finally, in January 2012 the course was able to celebrate the success of Yann Clement| who was promoted to Bistro Supervisor and Food and Beverage Trainer at Hotel du Vin Birmingham. This is the first time in many years that such a promotion has been achieved and as Jenny Woodhams, Programme Co-ordinator, advised “it truly is a fantastic achievement and opportunity for Yann and future students to be able to progress in such a well known hospitality brand. It has taken time, perseverance and motivation in tough times but Yann has been rewarded for maintaining his professional attitude towards his career”.

Stratford-upon-Avon College works closely with a number of local and national employers and over the years we have had many success stories. We continue to work closely with a large number of companies including the Mercure Shakespeare Hotel, Holiday Inn Stratford-upon-Avon, QHotels, Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Hotel du Vin and Malmaison. We have a proven track record in providing high quality Higher Education qualifications to budding professionals across Coventry, Warwickshire, and Solihull|.