14/10/2014

Trainees Show Off Hospitality Skills At St George's Market

Trainees on Belfast City Council's Hospitality and Retail Training for Employment (HARTE) programme showed off their hospitality skills at St George's Market, working at a special pop-up kitchen.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Nichola Mallon, was among visitors to see 18 people at work preparing a three-course meal under the instruction of a professional chef.

HARTE offers a range of training, skills, qualifications and professional support to people who are unemployed and looking for a job in either the hospitality or retail industries.

The programme is funded by Belfast City Council, Lisburn City Council and the European Social Fund and is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL). It is delivered by Time Associates.

The Lord Mayor said: "I'm privileged to meet the HARTE participants today and see them working so hard in a kitchen showcasing their fine hospitality skills.

"This particular challenge should lead to the trainees gaining valuable work experience and boost their employment prospects too. I wish them every success with their careers in the hospitality industry."

Participants gained hands-on experience in team-working, building their customer service skills in a busy market environment as well as enterprise skills through the costing and preparing of the meals.

(CD/JP)

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