Roundhouse Training facilities
Catering and hospitality courses will return to Derby College in September 2009 with state of the art training facilities at the new Roundhouse campus on Pride Park.
The purpose-built £2.5m facilities will have the capacity for 170 full and part time catering and hospitality students who will learn the business in a purpose built suite incorporating three glass fronted kitchens, 80-seat restaurant and bar.
Derby College is offering a wide range of qualifications for students in Catering and Hospitality.
ABC Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Skills Level 1
NVQ Hospitality Level 1 (Food and Preparation and Drink Services)
First Diploma in Hospitality Level 2 (1 year)
National Certificate in Hospitality Level 3 (18 months – 2 years)
National Diploma in Hospitality Level 3 (2 years)
NVQ Level 2 Food Preparation and Cooking
NVQ Level 2 Food and Drink Services
NVQ Level 2 Multi skilled Hospitality Services
Apprenticeship Level 2
Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3
* The course information above will be regularly updated.
The College had an enviable reputation for catering and hospitality but could not accommodate students when the Wilmorton campus closed in 2002.
The announcement today has been warmly welcomed by one of the College’s most famous former students – Michelin star chef Sat Bains who attended the College in the mid Eighties.
He said: “I am delighted to hear that the reintroduction of the Hospitality and Catering Department at Derby College is going ahead. I have very fond memories of my time there and it was where my enthusiasm for catering was sparked 20 years ago.
Recent research has shown a surge in the number of students taking Home Economics again at school and colleges therefore need to be prepared to accommodate this.
“The growing popularity of TV chefs has helped change attitudes enormously towards the industry in the UK. Young people have seen that, given drive, perseverance and passion, hospitality and catering is as valid a choice as any for a successful and fulfilling career.
The reintroduction of this department at Derby College can only be good for the industry in general, the East Midlands in particular and, no doubt, the UK as a whole.”
The provision of high quality local training in the catering and hospitality industry was also welcomed by John Forkin, Director of Marketing Derby, who said: “The recent and on-going growth of hotel and restaurant provision in Derby has been an important aspect of the city’s regeneration and marketing success.
“This training provision is therefore vital to enhance the city’s skills base in this growing industry and I know that the local and regional hospitality industry will therefore welcome Derby College’s investment in training facilities both for their existing employees and for the workforce of the future.”
Derby College Principal David Croll explained that the Roundhouse facilities would cater for a wide range of full and part time students as well as those on apprenticeships both at the College and from regional businesses. There are also plans in the second year to introduce higher level HND and HNC courses.
“We are delighted to be re-introducing catering and hospitality into the curriculum – building on the fantastic reputation we built up when we operated from the Wilmorton campus.
“The facilities at the Roundhouse will be among the best in the East Midlands and have been ergonomically planned to be environmentally friendly and re-create contemporary industry working conditions to give our students the best start in their careers in the catering and hospitality industry.
“The Roundhouse’s central location and excellent transport links will attract learners from right across the region, enhancing the city’s skills base and driving forward the city’s economic prosperity.
“We are currently looking to recruit industry-experienced staff and also plan to welcome guest chef lecturers from local hotels and restaurants who can pass on their wealth of experience to the students.
“The restaurant set in the atmospheric Roundhouse will be offering mid-morning and lunchtime service throughout the week and we also propose to open two nights a week which I am sure will be particularly welcomed by the thousands of people based in the surrounding Pride Park.”
The refurbishment of the iconic Grade II-listed Roundhouse and associated buildings is forging ahead and will cater for 12,000 students from this September.
The stunning flagship site in the heart of the city will provide leading-edge vocational learning facilities with students benefiting from the very latest technology in a stimulating and dynamic environment for a 21st century learning experience.
The imaginative £43 million regeneration scheme will provide 18,000 square metres of learning and teaching space for a wide range of courses such as engineering, care, some construction trades, hair and beauty, art and design and now catering and hospitality.
The most ambitious project in Derby College’s history, the scheme is centred on restoring and revitalising historical buildings originally used for steam engine repairs and developing impressive new buildings which complement the character of the site.
Part of the historic campus will also be used as a visitor centre and social hub where people can discover more about Derby’s proud industrial heritage.
If you are an individual or an employer wanting to register an interest in our catering or hospitality facility at the roundhouse, please call us on 0800 028 0289.
Attached visuals: Artists impressions of the bar area and training kitchen at The Roundhouse. Please note that these visuals are for illustrative purposes only.