Last month, our Travel and Tourism students were tasked with designing and creating an event for the Winter Gardens Ballroom to host, teaching them valuable lessons in event planning and the logistics behind organising them.   

The students were split into four groups and had 1 week to come up with an idea that would sell tickets and appeal to a target audience. During this week, students brainstormed ideas, did market research, created cost breakdowns, contacted employers, and came up with promotional materials and designs to promote their event. They then created an in-depth presentation to share with the Winter Gardens Management team who picked the best and most plausible event to run on May 8th.  

The events designed by our students included Bougie Bingo; a black-tie bingo event, Paint and Sip; cocktails and a paint along, Film and Fork night; dinner matching the theme of the movie, and a Murder-Mystery evening. These events were all innovative and well-researched, displaying a high level of creativity and thought within the design processes. Some groups even contacted various employers for quotes to start considering ticket prices which would produce a potential profit.  

After consideration, the Winter Gardens staff chose the Paint and Sip event to conduct on May 8th, deciding it seemed the most plausible to plan in a short amount of time and is already a popular event. It also requires fewer outgoings which means the ticket prices can be more affordable to the public and, in turn, will draw up a larger crowd.  

The winning group have now begun planning the event, organising a budget with the Winter Gardens and booking the required external activities such as food, entertainment and decorations. The remaining groups will help assist and serve throughout the event to reduce costs whilst giving them crucial hands-on experience around the of running an event.  

This collaboration between Weston College and the Winter Gardens is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn from professionals and plan a real-life event for an organisation. It provides them with excellent insight into the potential challenges that students may need to overcome when planning an event, the importance of marketing to promote an event, and the factors to consider in order to create a seamless experience for the public.  

By giving our Travel and Tourism students the responsibility to plan and deliver an event within a set budget gave them invaluable real-world experience which will develop their practical skills in project management, budgeting, marketing, teamwork, and problem-solving while learning to operate within industry standards and expectations.   

Not only this, collaborating with professionals enhances their communication and employability skills, and managing a live event for paying members of the public gives them a sense of accountability, resilience, leadership, and confidence. Overall, this experience is a fantastic opportunity which will provide them with vital employability skills and give them realistic industry insight and a strong sense of achievement.  

A huge well done to all the students who were involved, everyone’s ideas were professional and well-thought out and would certainly appeal to a wide target audience.  

This project management opportunity forms part of the Travel and Tourism Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.