Jannettas’ Drive to Attract Youngsters Frozen out of Hospitality Industry

 

One of Scotland’s longest established ice-cream institutions is on a mission to attract more youngsters into the hospitality industry.

Jannettas Gelateria in St Andrews is taking part in the ‘Taste the Industry’ schools roadshow run by Tree of Knowledge and Tennent’s Training Academy. Having already transformed the minds of some sceptical pupils who attended an event in Fife recently, the roadshow will head to Gracemount High School in Edinburgh today (Wednesday 12 October 2016).

Taste the Industry is made up of interactive masterclasses delivered by local employers. They will transform the school into a mock hotel, restaurant and bar to give pupils a first-hand experience of the hospitality industry.

Owen Hazel, co-owner of Jannettas Gelateria said, “When we attended the recent event at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar, we asked how many pupils hoped to enter the hospitality and tourism industry when they leave school. Only nine out of 100 responded positively, however, by the end of the day that number had rocketed to a staggering 76! Unfortunately some pupils are being dissuaded from entering this industry as they don’t realise its true potential as a source of some amazing and exciting jobs. We are eager to show young people that this is a varied, rewarding and lucrative industry to enter and to help change perceptions that hospitality jobs are low-paid and low-skilled.”

The Taste the Industry event also aim to broaden pupils’ understanding of their own transferable enterprising skills, which can be put in practice in their future employment. For the employers, the event is an opportunity to create a talent pipeline of young people keen to gain work experience within their organisation.

Taste the Industry is an exciting project, which aligns with the outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence and Developing the Young Workforce. It also has the potential to address local youth unemployment and improve the School Leavers’ Destination Report whilst meeting the demands of the hospitality sector.

Dougie Clark, a director of Tree of Knowledge added, “We’re delighted to be part of this exciting programme of events across Scottish schools. It’s a fantastic way of bringing business and education together in an engaging way for students, whilst equipping young people with skills for learning for life after school and hopefully a successful career in the hospitality industry.”

Stephanie Wade, director of the Tennent’s Training Academy shares her passion for the event and its importance – ‘’I’ve worked in the hospitality industry since I was at school. It’s a great way to make friends, travel and earn extra cash during studies but, more importantly, it is a very rewarding, fast- paced career. There are a whole host of opportunities on offer in every corner of the world, from jobs in tropical beach resorts in the world’s most remote islands, to high flying (and paying) executive director roles in every city in the world! Many foreign countries aspire to hire young British hospitality graduates – there is a whole world out there that young Scots could be tapping into! Taste the Industry came out of a determination to change the perceptions of our industry and it starts with young people, right here in Scotland. Scotland has growing tourism industry and employers need new talent to join their businesses and keep them alive.”

 

Jannettas Gelateria, St Andrews is open between 9am and 10pm, seven days a week. For more information, visit www.jannettas.co.uk.