Pupils from Gracemount High School in Edinburgh have been getting hands-on experience of the hotel industry, thanks to a new partnership with The University of Edinburgh’s Hospitality Collection.
Through the Hospitality Connect programme—launched last November—30 students aged 14 to 16 took part in a series of four workshops at The Scholar, the University’s four-star hotel.
The initiative is designed to offer real-world training while encouraging young people to consider hospitality as a future career. The workshops gave pupils practical insight into key operational areas including housekeeping, front-of-house, kitchen prep, and food and beverage service.
Run in partnership with UK Hospitality, the Hospitality Connect programme delivers six career experiences annually, bridging the gap between education and employment. The Gracemount pupils’ experience culminated in a student-led service at The Scholar’s restaurant, which was rebranded as The Mount for the day.
Students designed the menu, promoted the service, prepared food, and ran the lunch shift from start to finish—contributing directly to their year-end assessments.
Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager for Operations at the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, said, “We’ve loved opening up our operations to students already showing interest in the sector. The programme has been about giving them real insight into the industry, while helping build the skills and confidence they need to pursue it further.”
Morven Langley, a teacher at Gracemount High School, added, “This initiative brings learning to life. It’s a brilliant opportunity for our pupils to understand the demands and dynamics of a working hotel environment.”
The partnership is expected to continue into next year, with both parties hoping to support more young people to see hospitality as a rewarding and long-term career path.