Penarth school take over hospitality industry for day in 2023

Stanwell School joined a handful of others in the Welsh capital to take part in the Springboard takeover day at voco St David's Hotel on Monday, October 23.

The hotel located in Cardiff Bay hosted the event, as the Penarth school pupils along with hundreds of pupils from other schools in the Welsh capital showed off their hospitality skills.

Pupils experienced a dedicated programme curated of 30-minute workshops after being greeted by hotel general manager Konstantin Grimm and Springboard ambassadors.

“It’s a real privilege to support Springboard by sponsoring and hosting such a fantastic event at the voco St David’s, Cardiff,” Konstantin said.

Stanwell school boys take part in making mocktails at the Springboard takeover day. Picture: Rebecca Slade (Image: Rebecca Slade)

“Springboard supports the hospitality, leisure, and tourism industries; working with education establishments to help them deliver industry insight and skills development to students as they transition into employment.”

All schools enjoyed a talk from Chris Ireland, director of operations at IHG Hotels & Resorts before taking part in workshops across the hotel.

Stanwell School pupils enjoyed hands-on hospitality experience, which included laying a dinner table for service, boxing a tablecloth, learning hand massage techniques, marketing, pancake making and mocktail making.

Konstantin added: “The Springboard Takeover Day presents young people – the future stars of our industry – with an opportunity to get a feel for the hospitality sector. A special sector, and one that the team here in Cardiff absolutely loves being a part of! 

"With a programme of activities aimed at encouraging students to consider a career in such a fabulous industry, the workshops allowed pupils to experience, in a hands-on manner, how it feels to be a hospitality professional.

Stanwell School girls enjoying the mocktails made by their classmates. Picture: Rebecca Slade (Image: Rebecca Slade)Stanwell School girls enjoy the mocktails made by their classmates. Picture: Rebecca Slade

"We’ve been able to show them the variety of roles available and allow them to gain insight into a diverse range of career opportunities, which they may have been unaware of previously.”

After taking part in the activities held along the hotels Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas suites, voco St David’s, Cardiff also provided those taking part in the Springboard takeover day with a lunch.

The day ended with the Rising Star Awards, which saw certificates and goodie bags awarded to winners from each of the workshop groups.

Rebecca Slade, careers, education and employability programme delivery manager at Springboard, said: “The Springboard Charity was set up over 30 years ago and our mission is to futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality by giving young and unemployed people the skills and confidence to launch their careers in the industry.

A Group of school girls enjoy a hand massage activity at Voco St David's hotel. Picture: Rebecca Slade (Image: Rebecca Slade)“We are absolutely delighted that vocoâ St. David’s, Cardiff was keen to support our vision and host our Takeover Day today.

Ms Slade told the Penarth Times about the successful opportunity for schoolchildren in the hospitality industry. 

"What an incredible opportunity for these local schoolchildren to have an insight into jobs within hospitality.

"We hope that many will have been inspired today to start their hospitality career path.”