This week’s blog is by UHI Perth.  Colleges Scotland is marking the diversity and variety of the work that Scotland's 24 colleges do with our new blog series, 24 in 2024.

After the pandemic, the tourism and hospitality sector struggled to recover and address the staff shortage gap. Therefore, there are excellent job opportunities in one of Scotland’s largest industries to help allow tourism and hospitality to flourish. At UHI Perth our, highly commended programmes offer invaluable skills that set people up for a successful career which could ultimately take them all over the world. 

We are also committed to continually upskilling our staff, to benefit our students and their learning experience. 

Callum Walker, a former HNC Hospitality Operations student, reflects on his college education which has led him to Kisa’s restaurant in Perth.

I started at UHI Perth when I was still in school, in fifth year, on an online course for Charted Management. After I left school, at the end of fifth year, I applied and started on the HNC Hospitality Operations course. 

UHI Perth is a great place for anyone who is maybe not in a position yet to go to university but also maybe not ready to be in no education at all. With the range of courses in hospitality and practical cookery, it’s a great place to get qualifications straight after school.  The support and effort lecturers provide in both delivery and out with is incredible. I was not overly academic at school; however, your lecturers are able to help with any questions on how to write academic pieces, or just general questions about anything to do with the course.

My full studies include Higher English, Modern Studies, Business Management and Administration and IT, Certificate in First Line Management, and my HNC in Hospitality Operations. 

I am now going on to study with Edinburgh Napier University for BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management, starting in September.

My role at Kisa’s is one I gained though a work placement with UHI Perth and I am a Trainee Senior Restaurant Assistant. I assist colleagues and the management team with duties and responsibilities which are performed as back-office tasks. Although the majority of my hours are spent on the floor with our customers, my main responsibilities take place back office. 

My other responsibility is technology, I look at new ways to improve current technology within the restaurant and try to come up with solutions. For example, this month our team are trialling headsets which will improve communication between our front of house teams and back of house to ensure customers are seen more quickly and effectively by all team members and hopefully improving our service we provide.

Hospitality Lecturer, Shirley Simpson, reflects on keeping her industry experience up to date. 

For me, it was great to be back in industry. I love the buzz from working a restaurant service, and it is important to me and my professional development to regularly carry out industry experience to ensure I am aware of current practices, the successes and challenges of our fantastic industry. It helps me to have more insight and a fuller understanding of what our students are experiencing working, which in turn enhances my teaching. We are lucky to have – and work hard to maintain – our industry links which are invaluable to us. Industry colleagues provide work placements, employment opportunities, mentorship, guest lectures and visits and these connections are an important part of our department at UHI Perth.

I wish Callum the best of luck moving on with his studies and am excited to track his future journey as with his hard work ethic, focus, drive and passion for hospitality I know he will be a shining light in our industry and a great success story.

Interested in seeing what Shirley’s team get up to throughout the year? Follow the department on Instagram.