<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Every week, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a> students deliver a professional dinner service for friends, family and members of the public, offering high-quality, three-course meals at an affordable price. These services provide students with invaluable real-world experience while giving the community access to excellent food at a reduced cost.&nbsp;</p><p>This term began with a Tapas Night, where students designed and delivered a selection of hot and cold tapas dishes. The experience challenged students to work outside of their comfort zone, encouraging adaptability and creativity while developing essential skills such as time management, coordination, and teamwork. Preparing multiple small dishes required precision and organisation, closely reflecting the demands of a professional kitchen.&nbsp;</p><p>Throughout this year, students have continued to run weekly dinner services featuring a three-course menu with multiple options for each course, including meat, fish, and vegetarian choices. This approach develops menu planning skills while teaching students to accommodate dietary requirements, allergies, and customer preferences – an essential skill for future hospitality professionals.&nbsp;</p><p>A key part of each service is the structured delegation of roles within the kitchen. Students are assigned individual responsibilities, such as preparation, cooking, plating, or service coordination, ensuring accountability and high standards. Roles rotate regularly, allowing students to gain experience across all kitchen stations and build a versatile skillset that is highly valued in the industry.&nbsp;</p><p>These dinner services replicate the pace and pressure of a commercial kitchen. Students work at dedicated stations, collaborate under time constraints, and produce meals for paying customers. In addition to developing culinary techniques and knife skills, they gain confidence in teamwork, communication, hygiene, and professional kitchen practices.&nbsp;</p><p>Students are also involved in all front-of-house and operational duties, including greeting guests, serving food, setting tables, handling payments, managing orders, and maintaining cleanliness. This broad exposure reflects the realities of the hospitality industry, where adaptability and teamwork are essential, and prepares students for a wide range of career pathways.&nbsp;</p><p>Beyond student development, the dinner services provide a valuable benefit to the local community by offering affordable, high-quality dining experiences that would typically be more expensive elsewhere. This interaction with real customers enhances students’ professionalism, communication skills, and understanding of customer expectations.&nbsp;</p><p>Overall, these dinner services play a vital role in preparing students for future careers in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and catering</u></a>. They build confidence, refine practical skills, and gain a clear understanding of industry standards, helping them identify career interests and progress with a strong foundation for employment or further study.&nbsp;</p><p>This dinner service forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a> 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. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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.</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last term, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… 3 Hospitality and Catering</u></a> students took a trip to The Pony restaurant in Chew Magna where they took part in a cookery class and foraged for their own ingredients, giving them valuable lessons on seasonal ingredients and how to look for them.</p><p>The Pony is a produce-led restaurant which offers cooking classes to aspiring chefs, teaching people different methods of cooking, knife skills, and specific meals that can be difficult to learn independently. They offer workshops and classes, as well as tasting evenings and demonstrations from professional chefs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Our students took part in a foraging walk where they collected some of their own ingredients followed by a cookery class where they made a delicious risotto. By foraging for their own ingredients, students learnt valuable wild food skills and the impact that seasonal vegetables can have on the dishes they create. Wild food is also often more enriched with nutrients, and this experience gave our students a deeper appreciation for nature and the ecosystem by sustainably resourcing their own food, making this meal more rewarding and valuable.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Students going foraging for ingredients&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6240158d-8f78-45b5-afa3-07f3fc1f0f31" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Students standing in front of the restaurant&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cde7b936-9a1d-4918-9750-570e5b98fa23" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>Our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a> students have many opportunities within the college to develop their skills such as catering for awards nights, hosting weekly dinner services at our in-house restaurant, and serving regular hot and cold lunches for students and staff across the college. Students have also taken part in workshops with professional chefs and trips to local restaurants and kitchens to enhance their skills and learn new techniques from a range of industry professionals.&nbsp;</p><p>This experience was a fantastic opportunity for our students to step out of their comfort zone and trial new recipes and techniques, building their confidence and adaptability to use the resources available to them and preparing them to become experts in the field.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you to staff at The Pony in Chew Magna for welcoming our students and sharing their broad knowledge of ingredients.&nbsp;</p><p>This curriculum trip forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a> 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. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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.</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last week, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</strong></a> students demonstrated outstanding professionalism and talent as they catered for more than 150 guests at the annual <strong>Celebration of Success (COS) Awards </strong>in the<strong> Winter Gardens</strong>. This prestigious event recognises the achievements of nominated students, celebrating their hard work in front of friends, family, and lecturers in a formal and inspiring setting.</p><p>The evening offered an invaluable opportunity for our students to experience the demands of a high-pressure, real-world kitchen environment. Tasked with preparing and serving a full two-course meal, the students worked seamlessly as a team to deliver exceptional food to every attendee.</p><p>The menu featured a roast turkey dinner, complete with roast potatoes, pork stuffing, roasted carrots and parsnips, red cabbage, and brussels sprouts. For dessert, guests enjoyed an elegant vanilla cheesecake with a berry coulis, which received glowing praise from attendees and staff. They also created vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives, ensuring to cater to all needs.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Roast turkey dinner with roast potatoes, vegetables and stuffing&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb140a27-b6c3-4e3b-891c-569032e7e735" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>Beyond showcasing their culinary abilities, the event served as a powerful learning experience. Students developed crucial professional skills including time management, organisation, teamwork, and leadership—ensuring every task was completed efficiently and to a high standard. Working under real-world pressure reinforced their ability to remain composed and professional, particularly while serving guests during the event.</p><p>This hands-on experience also strengthened their confidence and provided a clearer insight into the expectations of the hospitality industry. Many students expressed how valuable it was to engage directly with clients, gaining transferable skills that will benefit them in future catering and hospitality careers.</p><p>The positive feedback received on the night was a testament to their dedication. Guests were highly complimentary of both the dishes, and the students were rightly proud of their achievements.</p><p>A huge well done to all <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</a> students for delivering delicious food and exceptional service at such an important event. Their hard work ensured the evening was a memorable success for everyone involved.</p><p>This opportunity forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</a> 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.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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.</strong></p>