On 10th July we held our regular open evening for people to find out about the Academy and the different courses we provide. We had staff from across the whole department talk about their areas of expertise and share examples of how students can progress and achieve with us in the People First Academy. We had plenty of fantastic conversations about what people's goals are in life and how the variety of courses we have to offer could support them with this.
We had people from all four corners of the Academy come together, including the Hospitality Academy tea; Luke, Vic, Trish and Maria who shared about the work our learners do to keep our conference centre and cafe running and the skills that are learned learn throughout the process. A particularly highlight for me was when Vic reflected on how many of our Hospitality graduates are now working in this very industry. It was a wonderful reminder on how far each of them have come and the honour we have had to be a part of their journey.
Natalie, our Partnerships Manager joined us too to showcase the Creating Careers project to share why we launched the programme; to fill the ever growing gap of employment for businesses across Cumbria. Her passion about not just finding people jobs, but careers was inspiring for all in the room.
I was able to talk about one of my favourite projects, Best Life, and how we build on the principles of the Keys to Citizenship to co-produce a learning program that really helps people improve their lives and make choices that affect them.
The cherry on the top (literally) was how our chats were fuelled by the delicious cake and drinks from the Riverbank Kitchen, made by some of our learners who are on their rotation learning the ins and outs of working in an industrial kitchen. What a treat indeed!
If you want to know more about our courses then check out the website and get in touch with the team [email protected] we have a couple of places left on Hospitality and spaces on Best Life, and we'd love to explore how you could be a part of the Academy.