The stunning Fairmont St Andrews, the luxury resort at the Home of Golf, is helping boost the job prospects of students at a local college.
Fife College has established a working partnership agreement which will see hospitality students enjoy the opportunity of work experience at the luxury resort.
Bryan McCabe, Fife College’s head of business, enterprise and tourism, visited Fairmont St Andrews to sign the agreement, along with NQ Events students Lynne Gilfillan, 42, Josh Ford, 16, and Keith Wallace , 54.
McCabe said: “This agreement is a great step for the college. It will mean that more students will have the opportunity to gain work experience with a large hotel. We are looking forward to the students getting to see the hotel working live and also being involved in events, functions and more.”
The partnership agreement – and closer working ties – have already benefited mature student Wallace, who has since started working as a waiter at the five-star resort.
He said: “I’ve just started at the hotel thanks to my studies at Fife College and I’m really enjoying it. It’s hard work, but really rewarding and I’m learning a lot.
“It’s great to experience working at such a large and busy hotel that involves so many different aspects of the industry. I’m sure that more students will be presented with similar chances and I’d urge them all to take them.”
Franck Bruyere, director of food and beverage at Fairmont St Andrews, commented: “We are very excited about this partnership agreement and working more closely with Fife College. It is important to us to be able to recruit local people with the skills we need and the drive to develop – working with the college will help to achieve this.”
The multi-award-winning sits in a majestic cliff-top location overlooking the North Sea and the historic ‘Auld Grey Toon’.
Voted IAGTO’s European Golf Resort of the Year in 2012 and winner of the award for ‘best large hotel’ in the 2014 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards, the resort boasts two championship golf courses – The Torrance and The Kittocks – and has played host to a number of prestigious events, including both the Open Championship’s final local qualifying and the Scottish Senior Open, which it has hosted for the past six years.
In addition to golf events Fairmont St Andrews has also hosted some of the world’s most important politicians and powerbrokers as a venue for both Northern Ireland peace talks and a G20 Summit.
The resort has also welcomed the likes of Kofi Anan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – who frequented the hotel bar during their courtship at St Andrews University – and a multitude of celebrities and sports stars.
As well as exceptional golf and a world-class spa, Fairmont St Andrews includes award-winning dining, luxurious guest accommodation and exceptional service, as well as unfettered access to the charms of the old town of St Andrews itself, the unique Home of Golf.
Fairmont St Andrews www.fairmont.com/standrews
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