Hospitality students are cooking up a storm to showcase their hospitality skills at a ‘pop-up’ restaurant in the Titanic Quarter this month.
Participants of the Belfast City Council’s HARTE programme are dishing up specialities at Belfast Metropolitan College’s Linen Lounge restaurant in the Titanic Quarter throughout the World Police and Fire Games.
Running since 2009, the Hospitality and Retail Training for Employment (HARTE) initiative provides training and support to unemployed people living in the Belfast and Lisburn City Council areas who want to work in the hospitality, tourism and retail industries.
The programme is funded by Belfast City Council, Lisburn City Council and the European Social Fund with the support of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL). It is delivered by Time Associates, GEMS NI and the Belfast Metropolitan College.
The restaurant will open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday when visitors to the restaurant will get to choose from a mouth-watering lunch menu themed to coincide with the Games – consisting of fresh home-made dishes, all economically priced.
Charlie McClelland from Lisburn, one of the HARTE participants, said: “The training delivered through the programme was stimulating and challenging but fun and rewarding. It was also important in building confidence and momentum for returning to employment. I can’t wait to work in the pop-up restaurant now and showcase all our training and new hospitality skills.”
Fellow student Barry Adams said: “HARTE has been both enjoyable and constructive. It has given me confidence and helped me decide to pursue a career in catering. The qualifications gained on the programme will certainly be of benefit to me and I now seek to gain further experience in this industry through the pop-up restaurant in the Linen Lounge.”
Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, added: “The HARTE programme is an excellent initiative for offering professional support and skills training to those seeking employment in the hospitality and retail sectors. I wish the participants every success with the pop-up restaurant and would call on visitors to the Titanic Quarter over the next few weeks to drop by and sample the delicious menu and excellent hospitality that will be on offer.”