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Travel and Tourism department boosts students’ prospects with industry links

Thursday, 1 June, 2023

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Travel & Tourism

Zack Hamilton, an Emerging Talent and Careers Officer at Jet 2, delivering a presentation to Travel and Tourism students

The Travel and Tourism department at Wakefield College is enhancing students’ learning with its industry partnerships – enabling them to learn from some of the leading organisations in the sector.

Zack Hamilton, an Emerging Talent and Careers Officer at Jet 2, recently delivered a talk to students at the College about Aviation Apprenticeships, as well as how their studies will link in with their future careers.

The department is also working closely with Visit Britain, Fly Me, Travel Counsellors, Willow Business Support and other local Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to create additional academic and enrichment opportunities for its students such as trips, guest speakers and work placements.

Level 3 Travel & Tourism/Air Cabin Crew and HNC/HND International Travel and Tourism Management students recently enjoyed a trip to Disneyland Paris, where they took part in a networking conference with senior leaders at Disney and other international attractions.

The students also analysed the global holiday destination and reviewed customer flow and mapping, as well as interpretation techniques.

Whilst on the trip, the degree-level students acted as mentors for the Level 3 students, which encouraged them all to step out of their comfort zones to further develop their skills. 

Students visiting Paris as part of their trip

This comes following the College’s most recent Business & Tourism Employer Forum, which was attended by a number of travel advisors and consultants from the industry.

Ben Porter, Head of Business and Travel and Tourism at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said:“Travel and Tourism is one of the most exciting industries to be a part of, providing the opportunity to work with people across the globe. We want our students to see this through their own eyes and experiences, and our industry partners are key to making this a reality. These relationships enable us to align our curriculum to fit the skills needs of the sector, meaning our students have the knowledge and training to progress into highly sought after roles in their chosen field.”

Ranging from Level 1 to Level 5, the qualifications aim to provide learners with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the Travel and Tourism industry.

After completing work experience with the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, in Skipton, Level 3 student Justine Epson has been offered a permanent role working front of house.

Student Lauren Viligiardi has also recently completed a successful work placement with Hays Travel, where she learnt about the processes within travel agencies and developed her customer service skills.

Find out more about the Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications in Travel & Tourism/Air Cabin Crew, here.

Learn more about the HNC/HND in International Travel & Tourism Management, here.