A Selection of Individual and Group Teacher Placement Case Studies in the

TRAVEL and TOURISM Sector To better prepare students for their future working lives it is essential that we support teachers to gain an insight into business. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Stephen Covey

Leicestershire Education Business Company (LEBC) —- creating successful links between business and education — Visit our website to find out about the full range of opportunities www.Leics-EBC.org.uk

Voyage of Discovery April 2010 Host: Snibston Discovery Museum Teacher: Peter Brookes, Loughborough College and Jill Benson, Leicester College Aims of the placement: To gain a general overview of how a popular tourist attraction operates and to see what opportunities are available for Diploma travel and tourism students.

Jill Benson from Leicester College and Peter Brookes from Loughborough College with Charlotte Pallet, Snibston’s Assistant Operations Manager.

Travel & Tourism teacher at Loughborough College, Peter Brookes said after his placement: “The entire day was most valuable. The team at Snibston were enthusiastic, helpful and supportive and were willing to answer questions and support students. Thanks to all concerned.” Rachel Byles, Learning Development Officer at Snibston Discovery Museum, with Peter Brookes and Jill Benson.

Jill Benson from Leicester College commented: “It has given me an insight into what Snibston can offer travel and tourism students. Also ideas that I can implement/utilise for units on the course next year, particularly customer service.” Subject Links: Diploma in Travel & Tourism.

Journey into Space April 2010 Host: National Space Centre Teacher: Simon Smith, Loughborough College & Jill Benson, Leicester College Aims of the placement: To get an overview of the running of the UK’s largest space visitor attraction and to see the diversity of different opportunities for curriculum enhancement.

The National Space Centre hosted a day for teachers from Leicester College and Loughborough College for them to get an insight into the running of the UK’s largest visitor attraction, dedicated to space and space exploration.

Pictured left to right: Simon Smith from Loughborough College and Jill Benson, Leicester College with Sam Topley, Space Crew Team Member.

Following a most interesting and informative day, Jill commented: “It was useful to discuss with a lecturer from another college ideas on how to utilise information learnt today. It was great to gain an understanding of how the Space Centre works and knowledge of what would be expected of a work experience student.” Subject Links: Diploma in Travel & Tourism.

View from the Tower February 2010 Host: East Midlands Airport Teachers: Various Schools and Colleges Aims of the placement: To gain an in depth insight in to how a major airport operates and to find out what East Midlands Airport can provide in terms of education links.

Pictured: Leonie Parkin, Community Relations Executive at East Midlands Airport, with teachers from across the East Midlands.

Pictured left to right Leonie Parkin, Customer Relations Executive at East Midlands Airport and Sue Upton from Gateway Sixth Form College looking at resources.

Teacher comments: “I felt that the most valuable aspect of the placement was the talk about education and employment links with the airport. The resources we were provided with can be used in schools in a number of ways. It was a very engaging and really well organised day.” “I now have a solid background on the airport to create a case study for students.” “It is great to hear that there is an education centre being built and that we can use this to mine and the students’ advantage.” Sue Upton, Gateway College commented: “There were many valuable aspects from today - gaining knowledge I can pass on to my Travel & Tourism students re the many different topics covered today, e.g. employment at the airport, the customer experience, the airport and sustainability etc. These all directly relate to units I teach. I am also doing a unit on job opportunities in travel and tourism so it is really useful to know that someone can come to speak to my students.” Subject Links: Diploma in Travel & Tourism, Environment & Geography.

Book a Break February 2010 Host: Travelsphere, Market Harborough Teachers: Various Schools and Colleges Aims of the placement: To gain knowledge of the travel industry and the business side behind it. Also to get practical insight into the running of a large travel company and the many different aspects involved. Geography Teacher Oliver Wilson commented: “Its been really valuable gaining resources and an insight into the workings of Travelsphere and the skills set required for work in this field was most valuable.”

The teachers viewing Travelsphere marketing literature.

Travel and Tourism Teacher Daniel Spencer commented: “It was really interesting to get a practical insight into a diverse industry. This will help develop my understanding which I can then pass on to my students.”

Caroline Jack, Head of Media & PR at Travelsphere commented: “The day went very well from my perspective and seemed to be enjoyed by the teachers who attended. I think they were surprised at the size of the company and what is involved in marketing and operating holidays.”

Oliver Wilson experiencing the call centre.

Subject Links: Diploma in Travel & Tourism and Geography.

Finding the Right Route November 2009 Host: People 1st, East Midlands Tourism, fdf, Experience Nottinghamshire Teachers: Various from across the East Midlands Aims of the placement: For teaching staff to meet with the region’s tourism professionals to look at creating and building links between the sector and education. Giving employers an opportunity to get a feel for the changes currently taking place in education and how these might impact on them when looking to employ and support young people. Mandie Stravino, Vice Principal at Derby College commented: “This has been a really beneficial day for education providers and employers to explore ways in which the Travel and Tourism Diploma is going to be implemented.”

Saj Raithatha, Long Field School in Melton commented: “The opportunity to build links with employers and explore how these can fit into the Travel and Tourism curriculum has been really valuable.”

The panel of experts facing questions from the delegates, Left to Right: William Smart, emda’s East Midlands Tourism Catherine Higham, Experience Nottinghamshire John Humphreys, The Travel and Tourism Diploma Development Partnership Helen Dewhurst, foundation Degree Forward

Speed Networking - The Lace Market Hotel / Finesse Group with teachers discussing education and business link activity.

Maggie Kingsbury-Smith, the County Lead Teacher for the Travel and Tourism Diploma from Loughborough College commented: “The event has been really beneficial in finding out more about what organisations can offer, like People 1st and in establishing links for the Leicestershire Partnerships to drive the Diploma forward.” A wide range of companies and organisations from the sector attended, including representatives from: Experience Nottinghamshire East Midlands Airport Peak District National Park Authority Snibston Discovery Park Business Language Champions The Derbyshire Hotel Conkers LEAP Ahead Leicester Shire Promotions TRIP East Midlands Farming and Countryside Education Finesse Hotels Derby City Museum and Art Gallery All of whom provided the teachers with a snapshot of working in their sub sector and all keen to develop links with the teachers, in order to inspire their future workforce. Snibston Discovery Park commented: “Meeting the schools and colleges who intend to provide the Travel & Tourism Diploma in 2010 was really beneficial. As employers we need to know what learning providers want from us so that we can work together and develop an offer, this event has started the ball rolling.”

Subject Links: Diploma, GCSE and BTEC in Travel & Tourism.

The Attraction of Conkers October 2009 Host: Conkers, Heart of the National Forest. Teachers: Various Schools and Colleges Aims of the placement: To gain an in-depth insight into the running of Conkers. To investigate the potential of student projects on the site and understand how staff are developing the attractions year on year. Head ranger at Conkers: “It’s a great opportunity to talk to the teachers about the park’s aims and links to the National Forest. Raising awareness of our vision is important and by giving teachers an insight into this it will be passed on to the students they teach.”

A teacher experiencing the attractions at Conkers first hand.

Comments from teachers on the placement: “Conkers provides a wonderful all round case study and placement opportunity for students of many ages.”

The teachers with Conkers Head Ranger, on a tour of the park.

“I was able to see how a place like Conkers can be incorporated into school life through educational visits, placements and themed events.”

Subject Links: Diploma in Travel & Tourism, Environmental and Land-based, Geography.

On the Right Track October 2009 Host: Great Central Railway, Loughborough Teachers: Various Schools and Colleges Aims of the placement: To spend time at Great Central Railway to understand how they operate within the sector, their visitor numbers and statistics and how the site can be used as an educational resource for Travel & Tourism courses. Teacher comments: “It will help me to be fully aware of the extremely valuable resources on the doorstep and being able to interlink local examples into teaching.” “Knowing that the GCR are aware of the educational aspect and finding the links that the students can have with the organisation. Also making own links within the industry.”

The teachers experiencing the hospitality on a steam train.

The teachers with Great Central Railway Project Manager.

Project Manager Alan Brassey at GCR commented: “Great Central Railway brings Leicester’s past to future generations showing student teachers the pathway to understanding the importance of their heritage.” Subject Links: Diploma in Travel & Tourism and Geography.

Packing the Case For Travel Agents 18th June 2008 Host: Midlands Co-op Travel Teacher: Clive Walker, William Bradford Community College Aim of the placement: Clive explains: “I am not a specialist in travel and tourism and wish to gain an insight into this industry with a view to bringing practical and anecdotal knowledge into the classroom to improve my teaching skills.” Clive commented: “It was an incredibly valuable experience to see the theory taught in the classroom put into practice, to see a working travel agency from the inside and to gain an insight into the day to day running was brilliant. From the use of IT, to specific services they offer and the processes and policies of customer support I was able to relate specific units that I teach to how it’s really done in business.”

Subject Links: Travel & Tourism, Business Studies and Geography.

Packing the Case For Travel Agents

Manager of the Beaumont Leys branch of Midlands Co-op Travel who hosted Clive on his placement day commented: “We are delighted to be able to give Clive some first hand experience of the travel industry, which will hopefully be of real value to him and his students. At Midlands Co-op we really believe in the importance of supporting our local community and we are always looking for ways to get involved with initiatives, so we were keen to help as soon as LEBC approached us about this project. There are many aspects of the courses taught at college that relate to our business and we wanted to support Clive in his investigations to see them first hand.”

Leicestershire Education Business Company would like to thank all the organisations and teachers that have participated over the last academic year. To better prepare students for their future working lives it is essential that we support teachers to gain an insight into business.

g{tÇ~ lÉâ

These case studies are a snap shot of the range of subjects covered and businesses engaged that support teachers to embed the world of work into standard lessons. For more information on this initiative or to find out more about the wide range of education and business link activity we broker please get in touch; Leicestershire Education Business Company (LEBC)

Ashcroft House, Ervington Court, Harcourt Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester. LE19 1WL Tel: (0116) 240 7000 Email: [email protected] Website: www.leics-ebc.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1016744