Students check-in to Visitor Economy Week
Hugh Baird College, along with other Further Education Colleges from across the Liverpool City Region worked together last week as they took part in Visitor Economy Week.
Now its fourth year, Visitor Economy Week is aimed at inspiring students to consider a career in Liverpool’s thriving visitor economy sector. Over the course of the week, young people from across the Liverpool City Region took part in a range of exciting activities that highlighted the diverse opportunities available in the region’s visitor economy sector.
Liverpool’s visitor economy is a major growth sector and, in addition to sporting 53,500 jobs, generates £4.53bn for the local economy. It also brings both economic benefits and reputational advantages and makes Liverpool the world’s fifth most popular city for overseas visitors.
Hugh Baird College’s L20 Hotel School students alongside Travel and the Visitor Economy students kicked off the week by helping out at the Visitor Economy Week launch event at Liverpool Football Club. The students helped by serving breakfast canapés and greeting guests such as Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and other leading figures from the region.
Students were also treated to an ‘access all areas’ tour up the iconic St John Beacon’s tower with radio DJ Simon ‘Rossie’ Ross from the Greatest Hits Radio station, the tour gave students the opportunity to view the fantastic skyline of Liverpool and beyond and they even had the chance to sit in on a live breakfast show to learn about all things broadcasting.
Lale Tekgur, Hugh Baird College Travel and the Visitor Economy student said:
I have always noticed the tower, but never had the chance to take a tour up it. It was great, we even met DJ Rossie! Getting the chance to experience behind the scenes really helps understand what goes on to make a successful radio show and the various opportunities that are on our door step.
In addition to once in a lifetime experiences, throughout the week, students also took part in multiple work placements at major Hotel brands such as the Hilton Liverpool, Malmaison, Radisson Blu and Aloft Hotels the placements gave the students first-hand experience of what it would be like to work in the hospitality industry.
Daniel Farrell, Hugh Baird College Catering and Hospitality student said:
There are so many different job roles in a Hotel that I was never aware of, this week has opened my eyes to the different opportunities out there for me once I finish College. It has even helped me towards landing part-time work whilst I’m studying.
Maria Stevens, Assistant Director of Business Engagement said:
This will be our fourth year supporting the Liverpool City Region Visitor Economy Week in conjunction with the Local Enterprise Partnership. The Visitor Economy Week concept is growing from strength to strength and I am very proud to represent Hugh Baird College and the L20 Hotel School within the visitor economy industry. The purpose of the week is multi-faceted, firstly it’s important that Further Education Colleges and employers work collaboratively to raise awareness of the economy across the city region, but it is also important that those myths associated with employment in Travel and Hospitality are dispelled during the week.
The visitor economy is growing at a significant pace and to meet the growth demand, 1.3 million employees need to be recruited into the industry by 2024, therefore it’s important we address the recruitment, retention and skills shortage issues now. I would like to say a huge thank you to our employer partners for their support throughout the week, we really appreciate it.
