The Ritz and the Glamour

Hospitality and Catering students Alberto Salas and David Webb

A couple of Doncaster College students have been hailed as ‘two of the best’ by Ritz Hotel managers.

BTEC Hospitality and Catering students David Webb and Alberto Salas have returned to South Yorkshire after spending a month on work experience at the five-star hotel, where rooms cost up to £5,500 a night.

And the duo have impressed hotel bosses so much that they have been offered permanent jobs there, providing they achieve their qualifications.

David Webb and Alberto Salas outside The Ritz

David, 19, of Askern, who also works at the Central Park restaurant in Doncaster, said: “It was a mind-blowing experience. I think it’s only just sinking in that we’ve been working there. Everything down there is so fast.

“We did allsorts of things in the kitchens, we prepared meat, vegetables, fish and worked with pastry and the bakery team. We worked extremely hard and it’s made me think even more that I’d like to work in the industry.”

David and Alberto were introduced to the Ritz team by College Principal Rowland Foote, who during his time as a chef and a chef lecturer, has made many contacts in the industry.

Tenerife-born Alberto, 17, said: “The month was very interesting and was a great experience. The standard of everything at The Ritz is so high it made us work even harder than we normally would.

“My time there has definitely made me think that I want to go into the industry. I hope to go to University and get a management degree and then hopefully gain employment and with this on my CV, I hope it will be a bit easier to do so.”

Gill Parkes, the College’s Deputy Head of Business and Consumer Services, said: “I cannot say enough how proud I am of David and Alberto. They represented the College superbly.

“The praise from managers at The Ritz is well justified and we hope to form better links with the hotel so their hard work could have opened doors for other students at the College.”

Alberto added: “I must thank everyone at the College for their hard work in giving us the opportunity to work at such a prestigious establishment.”

David added: “I can’t wait to get back into the kitchens at The Hub and start my second year on the course. This experience has really enthused me and hopefully it will show in my work.”

Doncaster College runs a host of hospitality and catering based courses at varying levels. Further details are available by calling 0800 358 7575 or visiting http://www.don.ac.uk/

Updated 01/08/2008