PUPILS from schools in the Bromsgrove district are looking to the future as they embark on a unique hospitality programme, the first of its kind in Worcestershire and one of only four in the country.

The programme, launched last September, is providing students aged between 14 and 16 attending North and South Bromsgrove Community high schools, Waseley Hills and Woodrush Community High schools with a helping hand from local employers to achieve a Young Apprenticeship in Hospitality.

The Learning and Skills Council in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is arranging the programme involving a number of partners including Advantage West Midlands and People First.

Students spend one day a week on a work placement whilst working towards National Vocational Qualification level two units and one day a week studying a BTEC First Diploma in Hospitality. The remaining three days are spent back in the classroom working towards their GCSEs.

To date the students have completed qualifications in among other topics employment rights and responsibilities. In addition, they are learning essential skills such as interview techniques and CV writing.

The aim is to create a Young Apprenticeship programme that provides young people with the skills, knowledge and experience of work in addition to the core National Curriculum subjects of English, maths, ICT and science.

Pam Taylor, deputy head at South Bromsgrove Community High School, commented: "The South Bromsgrove Young Apprenticeship Hospitality students are relishing the opportunity to work in partnership with students from other schools and to gain access to such high quality vocational training.

"In addition to this, the programme is enabling them to develop finely tuned inter-personal skills, together with the confidence and maturity necessary to give them the edge in a highly competitive market," she added.