A HOTEL – which is investing £750,000 into a facility that will create more jobs – will give two young people the chance to become part of a "fashionable and essential" industry.
As part of the Grimsby Telegraph's Your Life: Your Future campaign, we are encouraging local employers to give young people work experience, so they can go on to secure paid employment.
One of these local employers is the Brackenborough Arms Hotel, in Louth, which employs 110 to 120 people at the height of the season – and will take on at least eight more when the new £750,000 conference room opens its doors in March 2013.
Managing director Ashley Lidgard said the fashionable hotel – which has hosted popstars Adele and Olly Murs – will offer skills that businesses always need.
Mr Lidgard said: "People will always go out to eat and they will always need places to stay and here, you can learn versatile skills that are easily adaptable in businesses all over the world.
"We are actually investing in the area, while other businesses cut back and the new facility will create at least eight jobs, as well as various temporary roles, and we have also used local contractors to build it.
"This industry is not a 9-to-5 job, so you have to love it if you want to get involved, but I enjoy doing a job in which one day I'm doing admin work and the next I'm serving up bangers for Bonfire Night.
"We employ so many young people and are investing in the area so we want to do what we can to help young people get the skills they need."
One such person is new dad Jack Green, 22, of Louth, who got his job as a commis chef in the kitchen after doing a month of work experience in May last year.
Mr Green said: "I gave up my time for a month but they offered me a job within two weeks, so it was well worth it.
"Now I have a job that I love, a decent wage, and I've got it because I put myself out there, asked for some help, and they let me come in."
The hotel offers experience in many roles, including kitchen work, bar and waiting work, housekeeping and administration.
Young people can sample a number of roles and will gain vital experience that shows that they have learned important skills and were willing to go the extra mile.
Mel Sharpe, customer relationship manager, said: "This is a great place to work and we have a great team.
"We have worked with people from the Grimsby Institute and Franklin College before and have given talks to students in the past.
"Some people claim that young people don't want to work but those who we have dealt with have always been very positive and keen to get expertise in the industry."
To find out more about Your Life: Your Future, apply for work experience or if you are a business wanting to offer work experience, e-mail dan.russell@gsmg.co.uk or call him on 01472 372236.
