Saints in Training. South Africa and the UK

Hujis Haerlem Guest House Cape Town

Julie and her Bread at Hujis Haerlem

Bevan, our man at the Cape Grace!

We have been fortunate to be able once again to enable a number of Saints the opportunity to have direct on the job experience in commercial businesses in South Africa and the UK.  

This year four Saints will be spending up to three months working in a hospitality business to learn skills which will benefit not only them but the island. 
Examples include, working under pressure to deliver consistent quality food in large quantities, Working an accommodation reservation system which can handle multiple bookings in real time, event management and planning and understanding the challenges of managing people in a busy environment. 

Julie, Jackie, Bevan and Debbie are embracing the challenges of living away from home whilst undergoing an intensive training regime. 

Julie is working alongside one of the best bed and breakfast operations in Cape Town and one I have mentioned in this blog before:  Hujis Haerlem in Sea Point.  Julie is learning how a larger bed and breakfast runs as her business is quite small at the moment but she hopes to expand. 

Julie is also spending time with a well known self catering accommodation company to learn about managing reservations and bookings for a number of rooms and types of rooms.  Julie is already proudly announcing that she can now make her own bread and will be doing so on return to St Helena!  

The Cape Grace Hotel Cape Town

Bevan has already spent a short time at the Five Star Cape Grace Hotel in 2014.  This time he is going for three months in order to learn some more advanced culinary skills and how to work as part of a large team.  So far in St Helena, we have nothing comparable to this so the Cape Grace experience is going to be crucial to Bevan's development.  The hotel is right on the Cape Town waterfront and enjoys not only an international clientele but many locals use the hotel as a regular dining venue.  It is always busy and there is always something happening!

Debbie doing Lunch at the Lismoyne

The Four Star Lismoyne Hotel

Debbie's role on St Helena is House Manager at Plantation House which is home to the Governor of the Island. 
Debbie's training at the Lismoyne Hotel in Fleet is based on honing her management skills with a focus on events such as organising weddings, meetings and parties.  The training will also have a hefty chunk of commercial reality as running Plantation House doesn't (currently) involve profit or charging money for services!

The 12 Apostles in its glorious situation

Jackie in the 12 Apostles Restaurant

Setting up the romantic dining location for a guest to propose!

The Five Star 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa is situated a little way outside Cape Town in order to take advantage of the Staggeringly beautiful scenery.  The Hotel is part of the world renowned Red Carnation Group who have won countless awards for their hotels, food, service and staff. 
Jackie is working her way around each of the Hotel's departments with a focus on gaining experience in management and operational standards at the five star levels.  Its a different world from running the Hotel operations on the RMS St Helena which is Jackie's current job. Jackie is keen to be able to continue her career in hospitality on St Helena once her time with the RMS is over and this time at the 12 Apostles will give her the commercial experience. So far Jackie has experienced fine dining, a trip in a helicopter and setting up a romantic table so a guest can propose!