A group of 15 young hospitality stars are celebrating their graduation from a collaborative Management Trainee course in partnership with hotel management company, RBH, and University College Birmingham.
The graduates, who hail from across the UK, donned their caps and gowns for a celebratory ceremony at Birmingham Symphony Hall – where they were officially presented with Foundation Degrees in Professional Hospitality Operations Management.
Each of the students has spent two years earning and learning, working within the hotel industry whilst studying for their formal qualification.
RBH – formerly Redefine|BDL Hotels – offers the programme to promising internal and external candidates, following its success across its luxury QHotels portfolio in previous years.
The graduation comes just weeks after the latest cohort of students embarked on the course with a three-day induction in Telford.
Sarah Abercrombie, RBH’s Educational Development Manager, said, “I’m exceptionally proud to see all fifteen students celebrate their graduation. Each and every one of them has worked so hard over the past two years to earn their degree whilst building their skills on the job.
“Each of the students has started taking on more responsibility in their roles as they have progressed through the course, and we have seen two candidates secure Assistant Head of Department roles within their respective hotels. I’m confident we’ll see promotions and progressions coming thick and fast now the students have graduated and are ready to focus on their hospitality careers.”
Naomi Matthews progressed from Receptionist to Front Office Manager at Telford Hotel & Golf Resort during her time on the course. She said, “I am over the moon to have completed the course and graduated with the rest of my colleagues.
'Having taken ill earlier this year, I was unsure whether I would be able to continue with the course, but was determined to graduate. I love working in the industry and the degree course has given me the opportunity to progress along my chosen career path while developing my knowledge in an academic setting.”