University College Birmingham (UCB) has revealed a ₤ 15m hospitality investment program that would see it acquire and run a portfolio of commercial hospitality venues across Birmingham, offering trainees paid work, positionings and hands-on training in live industry settings.
The financial investment begins with the acquisition of the previous The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill Birmingham, which will be redeveloped into a 52-bedroom hotel and dining establishment to be run as commercial companies. Redevelopment work is expected to begin over the next 3 to 4 months.
The acquisition marks the very first stage of a larger growth technique that will see UCB grow its portfolio of hospitality locations across the city. Along with the brand-new hotel and restaurant, the university is also intending to open a neighbourhood restaurant in Harborne, launch a café, restaurant and bar at its Summer Row school, and refurbish the existing Dining establishment at Birmingham College of Food.
Collectively, the brand-new places are expected to produce more than 150 hospitality tasks while offering trainees paid work, apprenticeships, positionings and practical knowing chances along with experienced hospitality specialists.
UCB said students studying hospitality, culinary arts, company and events management would get experience dealing with paying clients while establishing practical and operational abilities required by companies, with the commercial places developed to help bridge the space between class learning and the realities of the hospitality sector.
This is a financial investment not just in our trainees, however in the future
of Birmingham Michael Harkin, University College Birmingham
The investment comes as graduate employability continues to rise the agenda throughout UK college, with universities expanding employer partnerships, market positionings and other work-integrated knowing initiatives in reaction to growing demand from trainees for stronger employment outcomes.
Previously this year, speakers at The PIE Live Europe cautioned institutions needed to move beyond the “theatre of employability” and deliver significant work experience and career results.
Jasminder Khanna, co-founder and CEO of Gresham Global, which supports UCB with student recruitment operations in India and South Asia, stated prospective trainees were putting higher emphasis on institutions that offered practical industry experience alongside scholastic programs.
“For trainees, especially those pursuing hospitality, tourist, cooking arts and business programs, this most current addition reinforces the university’s dedication to discovering through real-world experience,” he told The PIE News.
Michael Harkin, vice-chancellor and principal of UCB described the financial investment as “the start of an exciting new chapter” for the organization.
“By creating a collection of top quality hospitality locations throughout the city, we are offering our trainees access to real-world, commercial environments where they can establish the abilities, self-confidence and experience that employers are trying to find,” he stated.
Harkin said the program would also enhance Birmingham’s hospitality sector by developing new jobs, drawing in experienced professionals and supporting the city’s track record as a location for hospitality and tourism, calling it “an investment not just in our students, but in the future of Birmingham”.
According to the university, more than ₤ 300m has actually been invested across its schools and surrounding neighborhoods over the past 5 years. Recruitment has actually already started for hospitality specialists to lead the new places, with UCB likewise wishing to bring in alumni back into operational and training roles to help establish the next generation of graduates.
Commercial director David Cumberlidge said the expansion built on the university’s longstanding hospitality heritage.
“UCB has an exceptional heritage; the College of Food, part of our Service School, has actually trained many Michelin-starred chefs along with many hospitality leaders who have gone on to effective careers in Birmingham, the UK and around the globe,” he stated.
“We’re happy that these new places will also provide opportunities for much of our alumni to return, bringing their knowledge back into the classroom and workplace to motivate and develop the next generation.”