Stateside hospitality greets Highbury student.
Wednesday 3rd September, 2008
Life is looking grand for Highbury College graduate Lee Redman, whose feet have not touched the ground since taking a job at a USA holiday resort.
After completing a Foundation Degree in Hospitality Management at the College in Portsmouth, the 21 year-old has seen his career really take off stateside, securing employment in the restaurant of the Grand View Lodge, a reputable family, golf and spa resort in Minnesota.
Lee, who had lived in Gosport all his life before the move, left school with high grades but believed an assignment-based course, such as hospitality and catering, would suit him best.
He said: “I decided to go into catering because I enjoyed working with food and I often cooked at home. Also, because at school my assignments were all at A or A* grade but I was never any good at exams, catering would be a good option as it was all assignment-based and there were no exams to be taken.”
Lee’s academic talents prompted suggestions that he should move onto studying the management side of the industry- a decision that paid off and in the first semester of his foundation degree, he was the only student to receive a distinction in every subject.
His hard work finally paid off when he received a job offer from the Grand View Lodge, where he had completed a six-month work placement in the first year of his course. As a direct result of his work during that period, Lee was offered a permanent position in one of the restaurants.
Since returning there in July, Lee has been promoted to Manager of the resort’s Sherwood Forest fine dining restaurant where he deals with scheduling, budgeting, basic accounts and organising staff, as well as serving customers.
In his new role he makes good use of his degree training, applying a wide range of skills including marketing, accountancy and revenue management.
Lee said: “If it wasn’t for this course and the support of the amazing lecturers we had, I don’t think I would have been able to move to the other side of the world and do the job I am doing.
“This course has not only given me the skills, but also a great deal of confidence, especially in myself.”
The Highbury College Hospitality and Catering Department has received worldwide professional and media recognition for their training courses and the excellent facilities they have.
For more information about courses and enrolment at Highbury College, please call (023) 9231 3373 or visit the website at www.highbury.ac.uk.
