It’s all in the planning

In front of a judging panel second year hospitality students presented their Business Plan for the International Student Dinner that they will host on the 11th April 2019. The dinner includes a sumptuous menu, featuring delicious vegan and non-vegan dishes. The Client Kathryn Firth, (International Student Engagement Officer) gave students a budget and asked for an occasion that would blend cultures, to reflect the diversity of international students at the University. The hospitality students will be tasked with providing fully trained waiting and security staff, prove compliance of all health and security regulations and ensure a good evening is had by all.

The hospitality students developed many employability skills by taking on various roles; Anna Jackson (Hospitality Event Co-Ordinator and Maître d’) enjoyed the opportunity to put theory into practice. She goes on to say “The Developing Successful Hospitality Operations module has enabled me and other classmates to test out competencies and knowledge, learn about ourselves and what we are passionate about… and I feel confident to push myself further at the Park Plaza Hotel when I do my placement”. Other students also had the opportunity to take on Head roles; with Eva Dews taking on the role of Head Waitress role, William Bell as Head Chef, Crisaela Stan looking after Quality Management and Georgia Hughes, Merry Tshungo and Selina Ditta being mentors for the first-year students; who as Anna Jackson stated will be a great help to make the event run perfectly on the night.

A great deal of work has gone into operationalising the dinner especially by Stanislav Petrov who said that, with classmates Kenneth Magambo and Dan Snaith, they have presented an extensive Health and Safety Report that should be used as an example for all future dinners at Leeds Beckett; and their dedication to this very important matter certainly impressed the judging panel.

One of the key moments along their planning journey was a quality control test of the menu (both food and drinks). This entailed a Tasting Evening which was delicious in every way with many hospitality students and tutors critiquing and choosing the dishes that will be served on the night.

Overall the presentation was excellent, and I will keep you posted on how the dinner goes on 11th April with feedback from our Client and international guests.

The Tasting Evening: Hosted by Head Chef William Bell, Back of House Team: Habibi Link, Paul Saville, Dan Snaith and Tommy Singh