Canterbury College students now have unique industry opportunities available to them.
Canterbury College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Accor Hotels Group to help students interested in the fields of hospitality, tourism and events.
The MOU will give students a range of pathway options after completing school.
Curriculum Coordinator for Hospitality Caroline Diprose said Accor would offer training opportunities and work experience where students would be trained by the best – and head chefs and other staff would also be keeping an eye out for talented students.
“We have been working with Accor throughout this year as they were willing to help out those students who were looking for back of house experience and it has gone really well, so the decision was made to formalise that arrangement,” she said.
“The students who have worked in the Brisbane Accor hotels have really gained a lot from their work there.
“Students work in a training environment at Canterbury in our trade training centre with our restaurant nights so when they go out into industry it really confirms everything they are learning here and gives it a real-world perspective.”
Year 11 student Jessica Lord has dreamed of being a chef since childhood and said she was excited whenever she could gain real-world experience.
She, along with fellow year 11 student Alexander Noney, recently won silver for Queensland in the Schools Culinary Competition held at the Gold Coast show.
“When I was four years old I decided I wanted to be a chef and that hasn’t changed – even when people would tell me all of the so-called negatives about it – and I work at a café now, so gaining experience in a big international organisation is just a great opportunity,” she said.
“I just want to learn as much as I can.”
Alexander said he loved the creative side to hospitality.
“I love the process of creating something, and it’s rewarding seeing the final results,” he said.