Hospitality and Professional Cookery

The course is for learners who are considering a career or indeed any employment within the hospitality, restaurant, hotel, and indeed visitor/tourism industries.

There are 14000 jobs across Ayrshire in the tourism industry with tourism businesses making up approx. 10% of all businesses in Ayrshire.
2021 turnover in Ayrshire in this industry was over £400m.

A key Ayrshire target is to develop our lovely local area to attract increased numbers of tourists which generates employment in this industry.

With in the Ayrshire and Arran Visitor Economy Strategy we are encouraged to develop a skilled, valued and committed workforce to ensure the success of the visitor economy.

Learners may be keen to develop a full career within this industry or indeed simply to gain skills, while still at school, that may serve them well in maintaining positive, enjoyable part time employment while they continue studying in alternative areas through college or university.

The Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Hospitality Operations develops knowledge and skills core to all areas of hospitality operations and provides the opportunity to complete more specialist units in, for example, accommodation operations, front office management, specialist food and beverage services, events and conferences.

HNCs and HNDs can provide progression to degree-level study. For example, the HNC in Hospitality Operations allows direct entry into the second year of some degree programmes.

Coverage includes:

• Hospitality Supervision
• Financial Control
• Food and Beveridge Operations
• Food Hygiene

1 Graded Higher (A-C) with evidence of National 5 (A-C) success spanning more than one area.

There will be a combination of practical and theory assessments on an ongoing basis. Learners will receive full support from their lecturers in preparation for any assessments.

Expect a course involving both practical and theory classes allowing you to gain a broad knowledge of the hospitality industry and how various aspects of successful business operate in this sector.

Obtaining an HNC (SCQF level 7) qualification would be beneficial for any next steps but more specifically SQA confirms that entry to university level courses in Hospitality can be gained with the HNC award.

Learners may also have interests in other areas and create a UCAS application which is bolstered by this experience of attending college and achieving at SCQF Level 7 prior to leaving school. The HNC may then allow a broader choice of employment options while studying in other areas.