Students at Burton College have been given an insight into the travel industry.

A manager from travel agent Thomas Cook visited the college to provide travel and tourism students with interview advice.

Vanessa Andrew, who is the manager of Thomas Cook’s retail travel unit at Nuneaton, spoke to students about interview preparation, including CVs, application forms and job searches.

Students then had the opportunity to participate in a mock interview and receive feedback on their performance.

In addition, the group were given the opportunity to apply for several vacancies as retail travel agents within the company, while students who are staying on at the college to study for the foundation degree in tourism management will have the opportunity to apply for Thomas Cook’s graduate programme.

Julia Hodder, the college’s curriculum leader for hospitality, sport and tourism, said: "It was very good of Vanessa to spend time with the students.
"It is coming up to a very important time of year for the group and many will be applying for jobs and going to interviews.

"The day was very useful, providing the students with a lot of valuable tips. In addition it was great that they were able to put their skills to the test in mock interviews. Everyone certainly learnt an awful lot from it."

Students from Burton College have also embarked on a live project to produce interior fabric designs for a leading furnishing fabrics company.

The five students, who are studying for the higher national diploma textiles course, were set a six-week project to come up with fabric designs for Skopos Design, based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

The project requires them to create interior designs for beach huts and tea rooms in a botanical garden, including flooring, walls and furnishings.

Reproduced with kind permission
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