Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality - Higher Education

Tourism, Sport and Leisure

Quality learning, outstanding facilities and professional staff have earned this School its reputation as a leading education provider in its field. Our specialised and industry-led programmes will help you to excel in your chosen career: they all enjoy exceptionally high employability rates.

Related courses

If you’re interested in sports-related courses we offer the Foundation Degree - Professional Practice in Sport and Rehabilitation Therapy . For those wanting a tourism career, you might be interested in our Foundation Degree in History and Heritage Management Studies and our corresponding top-up degree

Courses available:

Among the UK’s top courses

We have been awarded Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status for Customer Service Quality for Tourism. This is an honour given to us by the government, which means it rates our educational provision as among the best in the country.

A time of opportunity

The tourism, sports and leisure industries are enjoying a tremendous growth period and the employment opportunities have never been better. Our specialised and industry-led programmes all enjoy exceptionally high employability rates.

Employer links

Curriculum innovation, work placements and permanent employment opportunities brought about through our Employer Liaison Board.
Students placed with organisations ranging from the Pleasure Beach to The Hilton and Jurys Doyle.
Bespoke training undertaken for Gala Casinos, Deloitte, and Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre local councils.
Continued to work with League Football Education (LFE) and Blackpool Football Club on their Apprenticeship Education Programme.

Alumnus interview:

Jenny Harvey - BA (Hons) Resort Tourism Management

I wanted to carry on and do more qualifications after studying for my AVCE Travel and Tourism at the College so I could ultimately get a better job. I’m pleased I could stay in the local area to do my degree as my family and partner were here and I’m a bit of a softie!

I lacked confidence when I started at College but the tutors bring out the best in you and make you believe you are capable of doing anything. The course was good as I learnt every aspect of tourism, including strategic and financial elements required for budgeting and planning.

I did my work placement at Visit Blackpool, which was a great step on the career ladder as it got me the full- time job I have now. To work in the tourism industry, you need to be hard working and flexible as the hours can be very long when events are on. I’ve worked on the Royal Variety show and Illuminations Switch On to name just a couple; Blackpool has so many exciting events.

In the final year I bought my house, started a fulltime job and completed my dissertation – it was a lot of hard work but definitely worth it. I wouldn’t have been able to get my property if I wasn’t living and working in Blackpool while studying and without the College I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Hospitality

This long-established School has helped thousands of students prepare for successful careers in one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic industries. It’s an achievement that can be attributed to an appropriate learning environment, good quality teaching, research and focused personal attention on the needs of the individual student.

Courses available:

A history of success

The School of Hospitality has been providing quality education and training for more than 50 years. During that time it has helped thousands of students prepare for successful careers in one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic industries.

Wonderful opportunities for students

The School’s excellent industry links translate into fantastic opportunities for students. Marriott (US), for instance, regularly recruits our students for their placement scheme, with some going on to secure permanent positions with the chain.

Alumnus Interview:

Alison Gilmore

Alison Gilmore came to Blackpool as a young student in the 1980’s and at 39 is now the General Manager of the prestigious Barceló Imperial Hotel. She serves as a governor at Blackpool and The Fylde College, where she once studied.

“I was working part-time as a chef in Durham when I decided to come to Blackpool and The Fylde College. It was my first choice, due to its reputation and I must say it lived up to it.

I studied on the HND in Hospitality Management course, which allowed me to put into practice what I was learning. I could never have hoped to get such a good job at 19 without my HND. I had my graduation at this hotel twenty years ago and always thought what an honour it would be to manage such a grand place as this – now I’m living the dream!

I love this industry so I’d probably still be in it even if I hadn’t gone to College, but I certainly wouldn’t have been a General Manager at 30. College helped me get a step up the ladder early on in my career.”

To find out more about Higher Education at Blackpool and The Fylde College, please visit our University Section