John Mulcahy Head of Hospitality at Fáilte Ireland said: “Currently businesses are experiencing a shortage of chefs within the tourism industry to meet their business needs. In direct response to this, Fáilte Ireland have developed and funded this new culinary programme initiative to support the hospitality industry.”
Swilly Group was one of 12 training companies nationwide to be awarded a contract to deliver this programme. The programme was delivered in the Silver Tassie Hotel, Letterkenny along with the Employability element being delivered in the Swilly Group Training Centre.
Towards the end of the programme, the Culinary students joined forces with Swilly Groups Professional Food and Beverages programme candidates to produce and serve a 6 course meal to over 30 local hospitality employers. The event provided the perfect platform for the candidates to showcase their talents to representatives from local Hospitality employers anxious to pick up highly skilled new recruits before the busy tourist seasons got into full swing.
Employers arrived from all corners of the county including Jacksons Hotel, Solis Lough Eske, Hotel Harvey’s Point, The Ballyliffen Lodge, Stateside Diner, Inishowen Gateway, Mac’s Mace, Kelly’s Diner, Kee’s hotel, The Villa Rose hotel and Spa, the Shandon hotel, Mulroy Woods hotel and the Chamber of Commerce all of whom were treated to fine dining luncheon in the course venue the Silver Tassie Hotel.
The majority of the candidates that completed the programme had no previous professional experience in the kitchen. However, 2 weeks after the programme had finished, over 90% of the learners had secured employment in the hospitality sector.