The University has partnered with a local high school to give pupils hands-on hospitality experience.
Pupils from Gracemount High School took over service at The Brasserie as part of Hospitality Connect.
The Hospitality Connect initiative aims to reshape perceptions of hospitality careers while providing students with real-world training in a professional hotel environment.
Since launching last November, the partnership has enabled 30 pupils from Gracemount High School to explore daily operations at The Scholar, a 4-star hotel run by the University.
Over four immersive workshops participants gained practical insight into housekeeping, reception services, kitchen operations, and food & beverage management.
The next generation
Hospitality Connect, founded by UK Hospitality, delivers six bespoke career experiences annually, including workshops, employer-led events, and hands-on training.
By connecting classroom learning with real-world industry expertise, the programme helps bridge the gap between education and employment, offering school pupils a tangible pathway into hospitality careers.
Pupils took charge of the kitchen and lunch service at the restaurant, which they re-named as The Mount for the occasion.
The programme culminated with a special event at The Scholar Hotel’s restaurant The Brasserie, re-branded by the pupils as 'The Mount' for the occasion. Pupils took full control of the lunch service, overseeing everything from the menu design and marketing to food preparation and front-of-house service.
This hands-on experience contributed to their year-end school assessments and also provided them with practical skills and a deeper understanding of the industry, in a stepping stone towards future career opportunities.
We have loved opening our operations to support students who have already demonstrated a keen interest in the hospitality sector. By providing real-world insights and experiences, we’ve sought to equip them with the practical skills and knowledge required to excel in this field and to demonstrate the career opportunities it brings.
Gavin MacLennan
Group General Manager for Operations at Hospitality Collection
Working in partnership
This partnership marks the start of what is hoped to be a long-term collaboration, inspiring the next generation to view hospitality as an exciting and rewarding career choice.
Hospitality Connect was developed during the Covid-19 pandemic to address outdated perceptions of the hospitality industry.
It focuses on showcasing its hospitality as a rewarding profession that offers competitive remuneration and career opportunities. The programme provides students with practical insights into the diverse nature of the sector.
This initiative really brings classroom learning to life. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to see the inner workings of a busy Edinburgh hotel, enhancing their learning and preparing them for exciting career opportunities in this growing sector.
