A new partnership providing essential work experience for adults with learning difficulties has been announced by hospitality industry leader The Halston and People First in Carlisle.
People First is an independent advocacy organisation that has worked in Cumbria for over 25 years, supporting thousands of people every year to have their voices heard and helping them to live their best lives.
One of the many services People First provide is essential job training for people with learning difficulties, there is the opportunity to work at the Conference Centre on Milbourne Street to learn hospitality skills and the option to work towards an employment qualification.
The partnership with The Halston will help to further expand People First’s work experience placement offer to help learners explore specialist areas of hospitality beyond what is currently available at the People First Conference Centre. As an industry leader providing high levels of customer service across their restaurant, bars, rooms and events The Halston is ideally placed to provide a broad experience for learners across different aspects of the sector.
It also provides the opportunity for the job coaches to carry out varied assessment methods in different subjects such as, Work Experience Placement, Serving Food and Drink, Health and Safety for Work and Customer Service.
On placement at the moment, Tom has been working alongside Phil from The Halston in the dog friendly Barton Yard café bar, a popular haunt for friends to meet for coffee, business people and visitors to the city, it serves coffee, alcohol and food throughout the day.
Miriam Lincoln, Hospitality Academy Mentor People First says, ‘I have seen Tom’s confidence grow in the weeks he has been at The Halston and he has been able to identify skills that he is developing as part of his placement. Our thanks go to Phil for his enthusiasm for this placement and also to all of The Halston team for their kind welcome and encouragement.’
When asked what he thought about work placement at The Halston Tom said “I like it because it gives me the opportunity to try different things and work behind a bar, I’m enjoying it.”
Dominque Harrison one of the Directors of The Halston says, “One of the rewarding elements of my job is seeing the personal development of individual team members, seeing their assurance grow and they employ the skills they have learnt along the way. By working with People First we hope to help individuals with potential to overcome some of the challenges they may have entering employment. As business owners we can help change negative perceptions by setting good examples and investing in people because they are the frontline and the ambassadors for our industry.”
To find out more about the work that People First do have a look at their website. www.peoplefirstcumbria.org.uk/
