Full Time Hotel Reception Programme

Hotel Reception Programme

• School:
  • The Hotel School
• Attendance Type:
  • Full Time
• Course Level:
  • Level 2
• Course Keywords:
  • management,
  • BTEC,
  • front of house,
  • tourism,
  • receptionist

Summary:

Run in partnership with The De Vere Hotels, Marriott International and the Holiday Inn, this individually designed programme combines technical skills with useful qualifications looked for by employers. It is ideal if you would like to work in the reception area of a hotel. It will also be of interest if you aim to move into hotel management through the front-of-house route.

You will develop the practical skills and knowledge that you need to work in any reception or customer-focused job. A long work placement gives you the experience that employers look for, and hopefully your first job!

Course Length:
One year course - 30 weeks in college and 19 weeks on placement.
Course Schedule:
Monday - Friday
Entry Requirements:

You will need at least two GCSEs at Grade D or above in subjects such as English, Maths, Business Studies, History, Geography or Science. Many past students have much higher GCSE grades than our minimum requirements and have found the course challenging and gone on to forge successful careers in this area.

Enthusiasm and the right attitude and personal skills are essential and we consider this the main entry requirement. All applicants will be asked to attend a college interview. Applications from both school leavers and those over 18 are welcome. Work and life experience can be considered as an alternative to academic qualifications for entry to the course.

Core Skills:
You will learn how to handle bookings, how to check guests in and out of a hotel, how to deal with customers on the telephone and much more. Many of the subjects involve role play exercises to develop your practical skills. You will also develop Key Skills and IT skills relevant to the course.

Assessment:
Your main qualification in the college phase of the programme is the First Diploma in Hospitality and this is assessed by coursework. The NVQ is assessed by coursework and practical assessment of you when you are on work placement.

Academic Progression:
A Level 3 qualification in Hospitality or Hospitality Supervision or an Apprenticeship with an employer.

Career Progression:
After successfully completing the programme most students choose to leave college and take up full-time employment. Many stay on with their placement hotel for their first job. Career progression can be very quick in this area and many students will reach a management level within two or three years. It is also easy to move into other areas of hotel work such as Sales and Marketing, Conference and Banqueting, Accounts, Personnel and Training, and other types of work such as reception or office work in the business sector, customer relations or sales work in retail, travel and tourism or leisure.

Full Description:
The course is a full calendar year, with the first eight months spent in college developing your skills and confidence ready for work placement. During this period you will complete the BTEC First Diploma in Hospitality.

The placement starts in May and continues until September. During these 19 weeks you will work in a hotel reception area, either in a local hotel or away from home. Some of these placements are run in partnership with the De Vere Hotels, Marriott and Holiday Inn. Whilst working at the hotel, you will add to your portfolio and by the end of the placement, you will have completed your NVQ qualification.

This period in industry is invaluable as it allows you to build your confidence, develop your reception skills and gain work experience, which you can include on your CV. City College has excellent links with hotels nationally and locally and students often find that their work experience leads to full-time employment. All hotels will provide meals on duty and a weekly allowance towards your expenses. Hotels outside Norwich also provide accommodation and all meals.

You will spend five days a week in college, around 23 hours in total. If you work hard in class, you will have very little homework. When on placement you will work full-time, approximately 40 hours a week. Reception work is on a shift basis, you will get two days off a week but not necessarily at the weekend. We recommend that all students should get a part-time job where they deal with customers as this is useful preparation for work placement.

The qualifications you will gain are:

• BTEC First Diploma in Hospitality
• City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 in Front Office
• Key Skills in Literacy and Numeracy & ICT