EmployerView

Name: Andy Taylor
Job Title: Human Resource Manager
Company: The Crown Hotel, Bawtry and The Rutland Hotel, Sheffield

 

I would like to thank the team at Doncaster College for their recent support with some of our NVQ candidates over the past few months at both The Rutland Hotel Sheffield and The Crown Hotel Bawtry; Jane Fishwick and Michelle Jackson are a credit to the college.

 

We have had three trainee chefs recently complete their Level 2 NVQ's in food preparation, not an easy task when all three of them are Polish with, at the start of their NVQ, little understanding of the English language.

 

Throughout the whole process both Jane and Michelle have been dedicated and hard working having great patience with all three candidates.

 

In the past we have used other NVQ providers who have not seemed to care about the constraints of working to the business needs and only seemed to be able to assess students between the hours of 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday, where as Jane and Michelle have worked around the business, coming in to assess on weekends and evenings when the business in house is more relevant to the assessing process. I have also been informed that Michelle will be visiting one of the candidates during her week’s holiday to make sure he meets the deadline for his final assessment.

 

Jane is also a great support when I have queries regarding other training issues and often goes out of her way to find out information for me to be able to assist other members of the hotels staff.

 

I would also like to pass on my congratulations regarding two of your BTEC students who have just completed 4 weeks placement at the Rutland Hotel: Catherine Gore and Mark Byrne.

 

Two years ago we were asked to support students form Doncaster college at The Crown Hotel in Bawtry on their placements. Unfortunately this was not successful as none of the students bothered turning up for their placements and never got in contact to explain why. Needless to say this left a bitter taste.

 

When I was approached by Jane and Michelle to take Catherine and Mark for their placements I must admit I was a little apprehensive but with the support they had given our staff during their NVQ's I thought I would take the chance. 

 

I am pleased to say I was pleasantly surprised, and they have both done the college proud. In the past students have always stood in the back ground just peeling vegetables for their entire placements, not Catherine and Mark. Both have been enthusiastic, shown initiative and have asked to work shifts so that they can experience, I guess you would say 'real life' in a hotel.

 

The best example of dedication was last weekend when our Head Chef was on holiday and our Sous Chef was taken into hospital at short notice and again both the students rose up to the challenge instead of shying away.

 

So in summary I would just like to say a big thank you to the team at the College, keep up the good work, the hospitality needs teachers like yours to inspire people to join our industry and view it as a career and not something to do until you find a proper job.

 


If you would like to take part in StaffView or nominate someone for StaffView please email matt.needham@don.ac.uk with details.

Comments

What do you think? post your views below and come back to see your comments next week!

 

 

Investors in People  DisabledGO  The Matrix Standard  European Social Fund

© Copyright Doncaster College 2010

Email - infocentre@don.ac.uk

Tel - 01302 553 553

Contact us | T&Cs | Privacy | Contact the webmaster