Taster for careers in tourism and hospitality on offer at Perth College

 © Perth College
Originally published: 20.03.2007

Visitors to Perth College today had the chance to find out more about careers in tourism and hospitality while meeting local celebrity John Moffatt, WWII pilot turned hotelier.

In 1941, as a Fleet Air Arm pilot in a Fairey Swordfish biplane, Mr Moffatt launched the torpedo which crippled the German battleship Bismark. After the war he went on to run a hotel in Highland Perthshire, where he still lives, and continues to fly at the age of 87.

Other guests at today’s event, which took place in the targeting tourism centre, included local employers and school pupils.

Targeting tourism is a pioneering scheme set up to address skills gaps in the tourism and hospitality industries. It aims to make training and other resources more available to local businesses while increasing skill levels, customer care and job opportunities.

The centre is set to become the hub for tourism, hospitality, education, training and development within Perth and Perthshire and be the first point of contact for employers, employees, Job Centre Plus, VisitScotland and Careers Scotland staff.

“Scotland’s tourism industry is really taking off, so this is the right time to make a move and get involved.” said Ian Gibb, Programme Leader in hospitality and tourism at Perth College. “The information day was great for a whole range of people - industry employers, school leavers looking for exciting opportunities and people who just want to make a career change. It was a great way to get a taste of what it’s like to work in tourism.”

During the day Kerachers Fishmongers and wholesalers donated a smoked salmon for a carving and serving demonstration, while Perth’s only Polish food shop, Zall, provided a wide range of specialist foodstuffs.

Perth College, Crieff Rd, PERTH PH1 2NX www.perth.ac.uk Tel 01738 877271 mob 0796 887 1602 Fax 01738 877877 Perth College is helping to create the University of the Highlands and Islands, as a partner in UHI Millennium Institute.