‘St Giles Hospitality Academy’ Launches to Help Those in Need into The Hospitality Sector
St Giles Hotels’ foundation, ‘Hotels with Heart’ has engaged Saira Hospitality to join forces once more to offer hospitality training to 20 marginalised individuals from the local community suffering from long term unemployment or displacement.
The innovative partnership, funded by St Giles Hotels, had a hugely successful first run in April 2024, is back stronger than ever on the 14th October, to offer a four-week hospitality school inside the St Giles London Hotel. The aim is to place candidates within the hospitality industry from November and December, a notoriously difficult recruitment time. Hospitality businesses are preparing for a busy festive season and the Academy aims to place all trained graduates of the hospitality school into meaningful work with its dedicated hotel and restaurant partners.
On Wednesday 9th October, all screened applicants, referred by over 40 different charities, NGOs and government funded foundations will attend Saira’s Immersion Day. Here, they will engage with hospitality employers and interview for a place at the St Giles Hospitality Academy. The top 20 applicants will be trained extensively in essential life skills and hospitality training for four weeks. They will also be given the opportunity to gain Level 2 qualifications and a Service Excellence Certificate from Cornell University. As part of the course, students will receive access to financial advice, be granted a virtual bank account and be provided with support on local transportation, uniforms for work and enjoy a hot meal for every day of their study at the Academy.
At St Giles Hotels, giving back isn’t just something we do as a side project to tick some boxes– it’s something we truly care about that is at the heart of our company culture and forms one of the pillars of who we are as a team. We’re passionate about dedicating our time, energy, and resources to uplift and empower the communities around us, and to empower those who need support getting back onto the employment ladder.
We are immensely proud and grateful to be able to launch the St Giles Hospitality Academy, in partnership with Saira Hospitality. This initiative is our way of making a real difference, helping people get back into meaningful work, while making a lasting, positive difference in society and the lives of those we serve to the lives of those in the communities we serve.
Abigail Tan
Abigail’s career has been shaped by personal and professional milestones. Her apprenticeship under the mentorship of the COO—affectionately referred to as Uncle Steve—gave her invaluable insights into hotel operations, leadership, and team building.
The Hotels with Heart Foundation, founded by St Giles Hotels’ CEO Abigail Tan, launched in 2023 to give back to the people and communities around their hotels. The St Giles Hospitality Academy is a cornerstone of the Foundations’ ambitious plans to raise £1M for the local community by 2030.
To read the full interview, simply click on the link here.
This article was published on 13th November, 2024
