Belfast Met’s Curriculum Manager for Hospitality, Aiveen Cassidy with Peter Rea and Rebecca McNicholas who took part in a week long training course at the met in preparation of employment at the highly anticipated hotel this September. Also pictured is Adrian McNally, General Manager of Titanic Hotel Belfast.

Belfast Met has got fully on-board with training staff for the city’s highly-anticipated luxury Titanic Hotel Belfast.

The participants have just completed a week-long training course delivered by the college’s hospitality lecturers, all of whom boast vast industry experience themselves.

The aim of the training course, delivered in Belfast Met’s Linen Lounge restaurant – the heart of the college’s hospitality centre of teaching excellence - at its Titanic Quarter campus, is to equip staff with skills to provide top class service for the customers of the £28m hotel.

Titanic Hotel Belfast opened at the site of the former Harland and Wolff HQ and historic Drawing Offices in September.

A £5m grant from Heritage Lottery Fund’s Enterprise Fund has saved and restored the two historical Drawing Offices as part of the wider transformation of the building into the luxury hotel. Maximum heritage preservation has been the key objective and staff have also worked with the Titanic Foundation to ensure their knowledge of the history and legacy of the building and Queen’s Island is part of their formal training.

The Belfast Met training course is just one of many that the college will run on behalf of the new establishment. Belfast Met and Titanic Hotel Belfast have developed a long term strategic partnership in relation to workforce development solutions.  The college will work in partnership with the hotel to provide skills and apprenticeship solutions across a range of professional and technical areas within the hotel.

The recent skills training delivered at Belfast Met’s Titanic Campus marks the commencement of this partnership as the College supports Titanic Hotel Belfast in the on-boarding of its new team.

The hotel has also opened up lucrative part-time employment opportunities for existing hospitality, events and business students.

Belfast Met Events Management student Rebecca McNicholas (20) from Hillsborough, who took part in the training programme, said: “I’ve found the course really interesting and have developed my practical skills considerably. This is my first job in the industry, I was delighted to find out I was successful and I cannot wait to gain vital hands-on experience at Belfast’s newest and most exciting hotel that is steeped in so much local history.”

Peter Rea (23) from Jordanstown added: “The course has been so enjoyable. I worked as a chef before and I will be doing food and beverage at Titanic Hotel Belfast. I’m ambitious and hope to work my way to the top of the hierarchical structure of the business.”

Belfast Met’s Curriculum Area Manager for Hospitality, Aiveen Cassidy said: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Titanic Hotel Belfast. Engaging with our Industry links will support students’ learning and equip them with the high standard of skills and experience they require for our thriving industry.”

General Manager of Titanic Hotel Belfast, Adrian McNally, said: “It has been incredible to see the enthusiasm and dedication from our new suite of staff who are not only immersing themselves in high quality hospitality skills, but also learning about the history and heritage of the former shipyard site.

“Partnering with Belfast Met to provide this training has been invaluable and has set our staff up to provide first class service.”