Tourism students from Cornwall College to steward at the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta
Travel and Tourism students from Cornwall College have formed an alliance with the Tourism Service of Carrick District Council which will provide them with the unique experience of acting as stewards at the Funchal 500 Tall Ship Regatta in Falmouth in September.
This joint venture has been supported by the Cornwall Education Business Partnership, who have launched a national pilot ‘The Catalyst Business Interchange’ which provides opportunities for lecturers to update their knowledge by spending time in industry. Cornwall College tourism lecturer, Suzette Sadler, has spent three days in the Tourism Service at Carrick District Council, forging links on behalf of the students and working alongside the team preparing for the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta activities taking place in Falmouth. The Catalyst Business Interchange will also support a reciprocal visit from the regatta organisers in Falmouth to the college, in June, to conduct workshops in order to prepare the students for their role as stewards.
The workshops will take place in the college’s training room based at Falmouth Docks and will provide a variety of activities for the students. The organisers will discuss the importance of the event to the local tourism industry, explain the skills required to steward at the event and health and safety within the docks. The students will also undertake a tour of the town, conducted by a Blue Badge Guide from Falmouth Tourist Information Centre. A further workshop will be delivered by John Hick Chairman of the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta in Falmouth on the ships and the background of the regatta.
Suzette Sadler from Cornwall College said ‘it is important that staff lecturing on vocational courses regularly update their industry knowledge and that this is then passed onto their students. This alliance will also provide the students with the opportunity to work with professionals within the tourism industry, gain first hand experience of an international tourism event and produce evidence for their course work’. Samantha Groom, Tourism Officer for Carrick District Council added ‘ the help of volunteers is an important part of the success of this event, and to have the opportunity of involving tourism students means the regatta gets enthusiastic volunteers and the students get first hand experience of what is shaping up to be the biggest event in Cornwall this year’. |
