Summary

This 15-week course is for 16-18 year olds who are not currently in education, employment or training, but who are potentially interested in developing a career in either: Hospitality, Catering, Travel and Tourism or Events. The course will help you build confidence, learn new skills and allow you to explore these career options to discover whether one of these could be the right choice for you.

Through practical activities and real projects, you'll learn important workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, customer service and problem-solving.

You'll also get a taste of what it's like to work in these industries by taking part in activities like food preparation, event planning and tourism projects. You'll get to meet employers, hear from industry experts and visit workplaces to see these careers in action.

As you progress, you'll create a portfolio of work that shows the skills you've developed. You'll also get support with:

CV writing
Job and course applications
Interview preparation
Planning your next steps

By the end of the programme, you'll have more confidence, valuable employability skills and a clearer idea of your future. You'll be ready to move on to a Level 2 course, apprenticeship or employment.

Entry Requirements

There are no specific entry requirements to undertake this course however, due to limited spaces available, you must have an interest in the industry and/or intend progressing into further study or employment within it. If you have relevant vocational qualifications (Tech Awards in Travel, Hospitality or Cooking) or GCSE /Functional Skills these will help you with your progression and open up further opportunities for both study and employment in the future

To start with us, you will need to have:

Commitment to study two days a week and be motivated to study the subject and learn new skills
Good communication skills
Keen desire to work with the general public
A successful discussion with a tutor
Hardworking approach toward the industry

Start date	Location	Duration
21 Jan 2027	Bispham Campus	15 Weeks	Apply now

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Blackpool and the surrounding area offer a wide range of exciting career opportunities across hospitality, catering, travel, tourism and events, including openings for young people who have the right skills and attitude.

You'll discover potential career pathways including:

Hospitality and hotel operations
Professional cookery and kitchen operations
Visitor attractions and leisure venues
Travel services and airlines
Tourism and destination management
Events and entertainment
Customer service and guest experience

Finishing the course successfully can lead to further study at college, an apprenticeship or entry-level employment, helping you progress towards careers in one of the Fylde Coast's most important and exciting industries. Whether you aspire to work in a luxury hotel, manage events, become a chef, support visitors at major attractions or build a career in travel and tourism, this course will help you start your journey with confidence.

Next steps at B&FC

Having completed this course, you can look to progress to a Level 1 or Level 2 course in one of the following areas.

Food and Beverage
Hospitality
Professional Cookery
Professional Bakery
Travel and Tourism
Events Programmes

Employment Opportunities

If you want to secure a job directly after completing this course, these are some of the entry-level roles you could apply for:

Remember, the employability skills you develop throughout the programme, including communication, teamwork, customer service and workplace professionalism, are also valued across many other industries.

Key information

Qualification obtained

Explore, Experience and Progress: An Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism - Level 1

Fees and funding

Courses for learners who are 16-18 years old at the start of their course and resident in the UK are fully funded. You may also be entitled to further financial help to support your studies depending on your personal circumstances. For more details of these, please visit our page on Finance Support for School Leavers.

If you are not a UK resident, we will confirm whether funding is available when we process your application. If not, you may be liable for course fees.

Extra costs and equipment

All students are expected to provide their own stationery.

We also plan a calendar of field trips and visits which are relevant to the course some of which may incur an additional cost. These will be discussed with you at the start of the course and funding may be available for eligible students.

What will I learn?

Throughout this 15-week programme, you will explore four exciting industries while developing the skills, confidence and experience needed for further education, apprenticeships or employment.

Getting Ready for Work
Develop confidence, communication, teamwork, goal-setting and workplace behaviours while preparing for college and employment.

Customer Service and Hospitality
Learn how businesses create positive customer experiences, explore hospitality careers, develop communication skills and take part in practical customer service and teamwork activities.

Catering and Food Service
Gain an introduction to food hygiene, kitchen safety, healthy eating, menu planning and food preparation while working on practical catering projects.

Travel and Tourism
Discover how the tourism industry operates, explore visitor attractions, learn about destinations such as Blackpool and develop travel planning skills through practical projects.

Events Industry
Learn how events are planned, promoted and delivered, including budgeting, marketing, customer experience and event safety.

Employability and Industry Experience
Meet employers, visit workplaces, develop your CV, practise interview techniques and explore progression opportunities.

Enterprise and Final Showcase Project
Bring together everything you have learned by working as part of a team to plan, develop and present a hospitality, catering, tourism or events project at a final showcase event.

Essential skills: English and Maths

All school leavers at B&FC are encouraged to continue developing their English and maths skills as higher ability in both these subjects is linked to long-term career success and increased earning potential - irrespective of how well you performed at GCSE. If, however, you achieve a GCSE Grade 3 or less in either subject, you will also have the opportunity to work towards re-sitting these to enhance your paper-based qualifications. This won’t delay your career journey because you will be undertaking this programme of study at the same time as your chosen subject.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

Guest speakers will join us for various sessions to talk about what working in the industry is really like and what opportunities are out there.

How will I learn?

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This is a practical course designed to help you build confidence and develop skills for your next step.

You'll learn through:

Practical activities and projects
Team challenges and group work
Employer visits and guest speakers
Trips to local businesses and attractions
Real-life hospitality, tourism and events activities

You'll develop skills in communication, teamwork, customer service and problem-solving while exploring different career options.

There are no formal exams. You'll receive regular support and feedback throughout the course, helping you prepare for further study, an apprenticeship or employment.

The course finishes with a final project where you can showcase everything you've learned and celebrate your achievements.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.

How will I be assessed?

Rather than working towards a formal qualification or final grade, you will focus on developing confidence, employability skills, industry knowledge and positive study habits through participation and personal achievement.

Throughout each module, you will take part in practical activities, group projects, discussions, role plays, workplace visits and employer engagement opportunities designed to help you build skills and gain experience.

Assessment on this programme is informal meaning that there are no exams. Instead, tutors will support you in tracking your progress through a variety of activities and providing feeback to identify your strengths and build your confidence

As this is an introductory course, there is no final grade. Completing the course successfully is based on attendance, engagement, participation and personal progress throughout the course. The main measure is your readiness to progress onto a full-time vocational course, apprenticeship or employment pathway and your ability to demonstrate increased confidence, skills and career awareness.