A student from Hugh Baird College’s L20 Hotel School is busy preparing for a summer placement of a lifetime.
On Monday 5th June, Grace Clarke from Birkenhead, will make her way to London to spend two weeks working front of house at Galvin at Windows, the Michelin-starred restaurant on the 28th floor of the Hilton on Park Lane under the guidance of one of the hospitality industry’s true service ambassadors Fred Sirieix.
Multi award winning and training and development advocate Fred is General Manager at the restaurant. He is also a familiar face on television having co-hosted with Michel Roux Jnr on the BBC2 series about service, “Michel Roux’s Service”. He also assumes the role of Maître D in the hugely popular Channel 4 show, First Dates.
In May this year, Fred created and launched The Good Service Charter. The charter, which Fred has developed following his extensive work as an international customer service consultant, is a framework with which to deliver a first class level of customer service within an organisation, whether that be a small independent bakery, right through to a multinational organisations.
Taking time away from studying The Good Service Charter at Hugh Baird College’s L20 Restaurant, Grace said:
“My course here at the college is split between service and the kitchens, but the importance of a memorable customer experience is where I believe my future lies and is the part of the course I enjoy the most.”
“I am really excited and a little nervous about my placement over the summer. But I’m passionate about good service and to be immersed in a restaurant that is world renowned for its quality of service is an amazing opportunity for me.”
L20 Hotel School Hospitality Curriculum Coordinator, Mark Amesbury, added:
“Here at the L20 Hotel School at Hugh Baird College, we make sure our students are aware of all aspects of the hospitality world and we put as much emphasis on service as we do on the cooking aspects of the courses we offer.”
“Over the past two years the students have worked with some first class chefs from around the country and everyone has made a point of reminding the students about service and presentation.”
“I would like to thank Fred and the team at Galvin at Windows for providing Grace with such a fantastic opportunity.”