Andrew Chantrell

The Old Government House Hotel and Spa has launched an initiative aimed at attracting Guernsey’s youth into a career in hospitality.

General Manager Andrew Chantrell announced that the hotel will be offering a hospitality shadowing day to five school students aged between 16 and 18 in an effort to foster home-grown stars of the future in the field of hospitality and hotels.

The OGH broke all records recently at the Awards for Achievements becoming the first business to win three awards – Guernsey Business of the Year, Best Large Business and the Excellence in Training Award.

Mr Chantrell said he was keen to increase the number of local young people looking to take up a career in the hospitality industry.

“Hospitality is an exciting industry with real career advancement opportunities but I don’t think we talk about ourselves enough to those considering their futures,” he said.

“There is a misconception that working in hospitality does not pay as well as other industries. What other industry gives you clear and continuous training and development and a range of careers few other business sectors can offer? It is time we explained to school students just what we can offer.

“Many might think a career in a hotel means being a waiter or a chamber maid but the OGH is a prime example of the vast range of opportunities on offer.

“We have staff who began life as barmen or waitresses and they are now heading up our conference and banqueting division or working as a sommelier (wine expert) in top restaurants around the world,” Mr Chantrell said.

The OGH team is asking for interested students to email them at sales@oghhotel.com giving their details including their school year, their interests, and also an indication of the department(s) that interest them most – reception, restaurant, kitchen, housekeeping, gym, spa or concierge, to name but a few.

The team will then select five individuals who will be offered the opportunity to shadow a particular team on a mutually-convenient date.

“We encourage as many students as possible to apply and hopefully we can demonstrate that a career in hospitality is a real option for the future,” Mr Chantrell said.