Students get hands-on taste of hospitality careers at Galgorm Resort

Pupils form Cambridge House Grammar School try their hand at cupcake decorating under the guidance of chef, Sandra McCooke as the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford and Colin Johnston, CEO of Galgorm Collection look on.

Forty local pupils have been given a behind-the-scenes look at careers in hospitality and tourism as part of a growing Mid and East Antrim programme designed to connect classroom learning with real workplace opportunities.

Students from Cambridge House Grammar School visited Galgorm Resort through the World of Work programme, a council-funded initiative aimed at helping young people understand the range of career paths available across one of the borough’s key employment sectors.

The visit formed part of an expanded programme across Mid and East Antrim, with 54 sessions planned this year across seven primary schools and eight post-primary schools at hospitality and tourism venues throughout the area.

Bringing careers out of the classroom

Pupils from Cambridge House Grammar School are pictured at Galgorm Resort during the World of Work initiative, alongside Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford and Laura Millar, People and Development Associate Director at Galgorm Collection. 

The World of Work programme is delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with local employers, including Galgorm Collection.

Following a successful pilot in 2025, the initiative has been expanded to show pupils how skills learned in school can translate directly into the workplace.

It also aims to challenge common misconceptions about hospitality and tourism by highlighting the variety of roles available, from events, marketing and food preparation to spa, grounds, housekeeping, health and safety, sustainability and customer experience.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford, welcomed the continued growth of the programme, saying:

“It is fantastic to see the continued success and expansion of the World of Work programme. Hospitality and tourism are vital to our local economy, and initiatives like this will help young people understand the exciting and diverse career opportunities available right here in Mid and East Antrim.”

A hands-on look at life inside Galgorm

Cambridge House Grammar School students learning the art of towel animal folding from Ryan McCullough, Housekeeping Manager, as the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford watches on.

Before the site visit, members of Galgorm Collection’s People and Development Team visited Cambridge House Grammar School to introduce students to the world of hospitality.

The pupils took part in an interactive team-building exercise, stepping into the role of an events and marketing team to create their own Galgorm Collection event ideas.

Their concepts included brunch at Parisien, a murder mystery event at The Old Inn, and a private pool party at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat.

Students then worked together to decide how they would market their events before presenting their ideas to the class.

The follow-up visit to Galgorm Resort gave pupils a more practical insight into how the sector works day to day.

Activities included crafting mocktails behind the bar, decorating cupcakes with a pastry chef, planting biodegradable pots with the grounds team, learning housekeeping skills through bed-making and towel animal folding, and taking part in wellness sessions with a spa therapist.

Students also explored food and nutrition with a qualified personal trainer, who demonstrated exercises that can be done at home, before meeting the Health and Safety team for hands-on learning around sustainability, green tourism and workplace safety protocols.

Employers hope to inspire future talent

Cambridge House Grammar School students learning the art of towel animal folding from Ryan McCullough, Housekeeping Manager, as the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Jackson Minford watches on.

Laura Millar, People and Development Associate Director at Galgorm Collection, said programmes like World of Work were important in helping children, parents and schools see hospitality and tourism as serious career options.

She said:

“Programmes such as this are an invaluable way of engaging with children, their parents and schools at an early stage to open everyone’s minds to the world of careers in hospitality and tourism. At Galgorm Collection, we are delighted to deliver sessions that are both creative and practical, giving a great insight into what the various roles in our sector have to offer.”

Ms Millar said the enthusiasm shown by pupils underlined the value of practical, experience-based learning in shaping future ambitions and helping young people recognise the sector as “a dynamic and rewarding career path”.

Partner organisations involved in delivering World of Work sessions alongside Galgorm Resort include Tullyglass House Hotel, Adair Arms Hotel, Harbourview Hotel, Papa Browns and Tourism NI, which provided VR-based experiences for primary and secondary pupils.

Local skills for a growing sector

Personal Trainer, Kenneth During putting pupils from Cambridge House Grammar School and the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Council, Councillor Jackson Minford through their paces during the World of Work programme. 

For Cambridge House Grammar School, the visit gave Year 11 pupils a direct link between their studies and the working world.

Mr Bleakley, Careers Teacher at Cambridge House Grammar School, said:

“Our Year 11 students are studying for their GCSE in Food and Nutrition, so this programme was a perfect addition to their studies. It was exceptionally well received, and it was a wonderful opportunity to get outside the classroom and get a taste of the world at work.”

The programme also aims to strengthen relationships between schools and local employers, helping pupils better understand the opportunities available close to home.

For Mid and East Antrim, where hospitality and tourism remain important to the local economy, the initiative is being used not only to inspire young people, but to support the long-term development of a skilled local workforce.