Progression gaps in ‘service sector’ provision in Sussex had been identified prior to the start of the project. A mapping exercise by the project team highlighted specific shortfalls and the importance of employer engagement. In collaboration with employers, six programmes were developed - foundation degrees in Retail Enterprise, and Food and Culinary Arts, an MA Culinary Arts, an Access to Service Industries programme, and work-based learning top-ups in Culinary Arts and in Hospitality/Events Management. The project also secured progression agreements between two FE colleges and the University of Brighton.

The SLN Travel,Tourism and Retail team completed its work in August 2008. Full details in SLN Three Year Report 2005-2008 Section 3.7.

Update Archive

‘Access to Service Industries’ Course

A course development team meeting was held on 6th February at Sussex Innovation Centre to move the development of the course forward. During the meeting, further discussion of the proposed course models and timelines for validation took place. It was agreed from the meeting that teams from Sussex Downs College and City College Brighton and Hove will meet with senior colleagues to agree the proposed course and report back the decisions to the next meeting on 30th April 2008.

BA (Hons) Hospitality Management and BA (Hons) Events Management 2 Year Work Based Top-Up Courses

A course development team meeting was held on 13th February 2008 to further discuss the awards and paperwork required for the awards, which are currently going through the validation process. The validation date is set for 12th June 2008. As part of the development of the awards, an Employer Event has been arranged for 17th March 2008 at City College Brighton and Hove in Brighton, where around 15 local Sussex employers have been invited to attend a lunchtime presentation relating to the two new awards. There will also be an opportunity for employers to provide feedback relating to the new courses.

FdA Food and Culinary Arts

A post-validation meeting was held on 13th February 2008 to discuss some of the paperwork required by the validation conditions which arose from the validation event in June 2007. A ‘light touch’ event is planned for 25th April 2008 where all of the required documentation will be presented, and the course fully validated.