Seymour Hotels is launching two new bursaries to help Jersey students looking to forge a career in hospitality.
The Seymour Hotels Centenary Bursaries, launched to celebrate the group’s 100th birthday, will be open to students heading to university and those preparing for sixth form.
‘There’s a recruitment crisis in our local hospitality industry and we all have a role to play in raising the profile of how rewarding and stimulating a career in hospitality can be for local students. Development, success and enjoyment are the three pillars of a career with Seymour Hotels. Across the group we employ everyone from chefs to accountants, gardeners to lifeguards. Our staff are our most valuable asset and we work incredibly hard to find and nurture talent. We are delighted to launch the Seymour Hotels Centenary Bursaries, reflecting our continued commitment to Jersey’s tourism industry,’ explained managing director David Seymour.
The ‘University’ recipient will be awarded a £3,000 bursary to support their studies in a hospitality-related undergraduate degree, including culinary courses, starting in 2020. The sixth form recipients will be awarded a student sponsorship package to support their studies on the Hospitality and Tourism or Culinary Arts full-time courses at Highlands College, starting in 2020.
Along with the financial support, the successful candidates will be offered work experience and placements with Seymour Hotels throughout their studies and given the opportunity to explore all areas of the business.
Seymour Hotels is a family business with over 350 staff employed in the summer months across the group’s leisure businesses and six hotels, which include The Merton Hotel and Suites and Pomme d’Or Hotel.
‘Creating a sustainable, vibrant economy and skilled local workforce for the future is one of the Government of Jersey’s strategic priorities. Tourism supports 12.6% of all employment in Jersey so it is vital that we look for every opportunity to nurture local talent and raise the profile of a career in hospitality. We applaud Seymour Hotels and the Seymour family for the launch of this bursary and thank them for the vital role they continue to play in supporting and helping sustain our Tourism economy,’ said Senator Lyndon Farnham, Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture.