Friday 31 July 2015

Know Hospitality launches new internship initiative at The Richmond Hotel Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: The Richmond Hotel Liverpool

The Richmond Hotel Liverpool has teamed up with sister company Know Hospitality to announce plans for a new training academy in Liverpool to enhance and grow skills in the hospitality industry.

Know Hospitality is working in partnership with leading hospitality and national training provider Kaplan Skills and Employment to manage and deliver the new internships.

Know Hospitality is part of The Know Collection, which consists of a number of city-based tourism/hospitality businesses.

Know Hotels Liverpool Limited (KHLL) was recently appointed as the new management company for The Richmond Hotel Liverpool, a Grade II Listed venue in the former Merseytravel Headquarters located on Hatton Garden off Dale Street.

The Richmond will be the headquarters of the Know Hospitality Academy, and it is from here that students will study and learn all aspects of hospitality from within a working hotel environment.

The programme is aimed at young people aged between 16 and 18, who have a keen interest in starting and developing a career within Liverpool City Region’s thriving hospitality sector.

Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy now supports over 49,000 jobs and generates income in excess of £3.8billion, of which hospitality plays a vital role.

Each internship lasts 10 weeks, with up to 12 students per intake engaging in a 24-hour per week programme, with each student being assigned a dedicated mentor to offer ongoing support.

The students will be provided with a uniform and expenses will be covered. They will not be paid to attend. Gaining a place on the programme does not rely on previous academic qualifications. The first programme is scheduled to start on Monday August 3.

The first two weeks will be spent studying food hygiene, functional skills in English and Maths, alongside other work-based skills such as improving communications skills; producing a CV; and taking part in mock interviews. The students will also meet industry experts and will be encouraged to build networks with local businesses.

The remainder of the course will see the students take on a trainee role in a chosen aspect of hospitality within the hotel to provide them with first-hand work-based experience and prepare them for a future in the industry. Participating departments include reception, housekeeping, kitchen and restaurant.

Once the course is complete, the students’ achievements will be celebrated with their own graduation dinner hosted by The Richmond Hotel Liverpool. Upon completion, the students will also receive a £100 voucher to be used to buy new interview clothes as a further confidence boost.

The successful students will then be encouraged to begin an apprenticeship within an established hospitality business to further enhance their skills and develop their experience to continue their career journey.

This is the latest development for The Richmond Hotel Liverpool after recently agreeing a new management contract with Know Hotels; and the independent hotel has been chosen as the first North West venue to become part of the new BW Premier Collection partnership from accommodation giants Best Western Great Britain.

Steven Hesketh is Managing Director of The Know Collection, and Treasurer of Liverpool Hoteliers Association. He explained: “The Know Hospitality Academy will play a vital role in our exciting plans for the future and development of the Know Collection brand, which also includes hotel, restaurant and facilities management, alongside hospitality consultancy.

“Hospitality continues to thrive across Liverpool City Region, with new venues opening on an almost weekly basis. This growing number of hotels, restaurants and bars need staff, so now is the perfect time to launch the training academy as the first opportunity for young people to learn about the industry first-hand.

“Once students have graduated, our goal is for them to start an apprenticeship so they can embark on the next step in their hospitality career. We see this as a way of giving something back to the industry; we may just find the industry leaders of tomorrow.”

Danielle Kershaw, National Traineeships Manager for Kaplan, added: “Kaplan internships combine real work experience, employability skills and on the job training to help young people get their career off to a flying start.

“We are delighted to be working with The Richmond Hotel Liverpool to launch the Know Hospitality Academy to offer this innovative project based study programme to give young people a real insight into the hospitality industry.

“Kaplan has been delivering traineeships since August 2013 and are seen as the leaders in the field. We work in line with Ofsted expectations to ensure Kaplan endorsed hospitality courses offer students all the skills and support they need during their first experience of the hospitality industry – so the students are in very safe hands.”

Young people interested in becoming a student at the Know Hospitality Academy should contact Kaplan Skills and Employment by telephoning 0151 202 0530 or by emailing danielle.kershaw@kaplan.co.uk.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Thirteen lawyers promoted at Brabners

L-R: Mark Brandwood,
Leanne Murray, Adrian Rogers
and Richard Hough.
Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Brabners

Brabners have announced the promotion of three Partners, six Senior Associates and four Associates across the firm.

Adrian Rogers (Corporate), Richard Hough (Commercial) and Leanne Murray (Real Estate) have all joined the partnership; Leanne has also been appointed as Head of Residential Development.

Corporate lawyer Adrian Rogers qualified with the firm in 2004 and has extensive experience in MBOs, MBIs, acquisitions, disposals, venture capital, corporate insolvency and corporate reorganisations.

Richard Hough is a commercial and intellectual property lawyer, who has particular expertise in healthcare regulatory matters and EU public procurement law. Richard is dual-qualified as a solicitor and pharmacist and leads the firm’s healthcare team, which advises numerous clients operating in the healthcare sector.

Leanne Murray will lead a team of eight and advises on residential development acquisitions and disposals with particular expertise in dealing with development constraints.

In addition, the following lawyers have all been promoted to Senior Associate: Iain Gamble and Kevin Manley (Real Estate), Jack Froggatt, Phil Steele and Simon Morris (Dispute Resolution), and Sue Mackintosh (Private Client).

Catherine Fearon (Housing & Regeneration), Gary Duffy (Dispute Resolution), Graeme Hughes (Charity) and Michael Winder (Commercial) have become Associates.

Mark Brandwood, Brabners’ Managing Partner, commented: “The appointments enhance the firm’s capabilities in core practice areas and growth sectors. These individuals have shown themselves to be excellent lawyers and strong and consistent contributors from a business development perspective. I am confident that they will seize the opportunity these promotions give them to have an even greater personal impact on the success of the firm, and further develop their careers in the future.”

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Brabners to establish Waterloo Uncovered as a registered charity

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Brabners

The charity team at Brabners have been appointed to establish Waterloo Uncovered as a registered charity.

Waterloo Uncovered is a ground breaking archaeology project which aims to explore the battlefield of Waterloo and reveal secrets that have been buried underground for 200 years.

While the Battle of Waterloo has been studied by generations of historians, it is the first major international archaeological project at the former battlefield using the latest technology and practices developed by conflict archaeologists.

Waterloo Uncovered has been developed by two soldiers from the Coldstream Guards, Major Charles Foinette, who currently serves with 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, and ex-serviceman Mark Evans. The project is also supported by a number of universities including Glasgow, Dundee, Gent and Utrecht, the Service Public de Wallonie and LP Archaeology.

The archaeology is led by Dr Tony Pollard, who heads the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University, and includes both professional archaeologists from across Europe and wounded veterans from recent military campaigns. The team has so far discovered coins, buttons, and English and French musket balls.

The aims of Waterloo Uncovered are to transform understanding of the Battle through archaeology as all findings will be made publicly available and to provide a unique opportunity for veterans to participate in an important dig and support those that are injured in their recovery.

Stephen Claus, Partner and Head of Charity and Social Enterprise at Brabners, commented: “Registration as a charity will enhance Waterloo Uncovered’s ability to raise funds from grant makers and others who as tax payers can use gift aid to increase the value of their gift, making even more cash available to fulfil the charity’s objects. Fascinating and incredibly interesting projects such as this do not come along everyday, and we are delighted Mark and his colleagues have chosen to use Brabners to help with registration which can be a daunting process, leaving the team free to concentrate on the project.”

Mark Evans, Project Co-ordinator of Waterloo Uncovered, added: “This is an exciting new chapter in the story of Waterloo Uncovered. Charity status will allow us to significantly increase the project’s reach; doing more archaeology and helping more soldiers and veterans. At such a significant juncture we are glad to be in the very capable hands of Brabners.”

For further information, visit www.waterloouncovered.com.