Lucia completed her GCSEs at Movilla High School before studying at SERC. Lucia first heard about SERC through her school’s careers officer and later attended an open evening, at which she got talking with tutors and decided that SERC would be her next step.
On her course, she comments, “SERC Bangor Campus has an onsite restaurant which I got the opportunity to work in and learn skills such as waiting tables, restaurant set up, bar tending, table plans, communicating with kitchen staff, taking orders, serving meals, and cleaning up after service. It's like a work placement but in the safe environment of the college’s Bangor campus.”
“The first month was challenging in terms of getting used to a whole new environment, but once I settled in, I began to develop a lot of new skills and confidence in myself. Learning about customer service has helped develop my communication skills by talking with customers face-to-face and taught me how to ‘read the room’ in terms of hospitality – making sure everyone is having a pleasant time while using our services. Learning about food safety broadened my understanding of health and safety in a kitchen and bar environment, and after studying food and beverages I now know how to make and properly serve a range of different drinks.
“My tutors are fantastic - I feel they genuinely care about my development and help me achieve the best I’m capable of. For example, Maths is an especially hard subject for me, but alongside my course I had the opportunity to gain an Essential Skills Numeracy qualification; it was a challenge, but my classroom assistant Norma really guided me through the work and now I feel much more capable of doing anything related to Maths.”
“With all the skills I’ve learnt so far, I feel like I’m well prepared to work in hospitality if I choose to. For now, my plan is to continue studying courses at SERC and getting an even more diverse skillset.”
Lucia concludes, “I can't believe how many skills I have acquired and how much my confidence has grown since starting to study at the college. There is always an option at SERC that will help you develop your skills and learning to prepare you for work. Even when you think there are no options for you, SERC offers a wide range of courses for all skill abilities.”
