Taste of Success for Student in Nashville

Nine (9) Culinary Arts students from South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Bangor, Downpatrick and Lisburn Campuses have benefited from a once-in-a-life-time unpaid placement opportunity in Nashville, USA, fully funded by the Turing Scheme.

The students,  Lucy Boal (26) from Bangor, Rebekah McMullan (17) from Castlewellan, Jordan Stafford (24) from Dromore, Beverly Patterson (57) from Newtownards and Liam Murdock (19) from Bangor, all Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery – Patisserie and Confectionery; David Rea (31) from Bangor, Ethan Hopkins (21) from Crumlin, and Jack Regan (20) from Newtownards,  all Level 3 Diploma in Professional Chef; and Levi McShane (19) from Bangor from the Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality with Events, spent their time job shadowing with the Tennessee-based King’s Hospitality Group.

Principal Lecturer – Hospitality, Management and Catering and Commercial Hospitality Manager, Paul Mercer, one of the team who accompanied the students said, “King’s Hospitality Group is an award-winning restaurant and catering business offering high quality, home cooked Southern dishes.

“Our students got to shadow professional chefs in a high-pressure environment, learning about different cuisines, cooking techniques and ingredients.   They also got to flex their home-grown knowledge, skills and creativity as they prepared a range of festive dining options for the St Patrick’s Day Festival in Nashville.” 

Paul added, “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students, all of whom can add new skills and international experience to their CVs.  They have a better understanding of other global cultures and work practices. A trip like this can be life changing – previous participants of Turing funded trips to Nashville with SERC have had job offers based on their experiences in the USA, which has given them tremendous confidence.”

Ethan Hopkins (21) from Crumlin, from the Level 3 Diploma in Professional Chef course said, “Taking part in the Turing Scheme trip to Nashville was the best two weeks I have ever experienced.   I had been abroad before, but this was the first time I had been to the USA.”

He added, “My first week placement was spent prepping and making dishes for the St Patrick’s Day Festival in Nashville.   It was very busy, but great fun. The second week was spent on placement at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Nashville, which I also thoroughly enjoyed.

“All people we encountered were amazing.   From the moment  we landed in Nashville, everyone was very welcoming and made us feel excited to be there.  Working in hospitality is all about team work, and we were instantly part of the team on our placements.”

Ethan continued, “The best part of the trip was making connections with different people from the USA and with SERC students from different campuses.   I made some amazing friends, and we are all still in touch and have our dedicated Nashville WhatsApp group.  

“Besides the placement we enjoyed some amazing trips such as visiting famous Nashville sites including the Grand Ole’ Opry and going to watch ice hockey.”

Ethan is currently spending the summer in Windsor Mountain International Summer Camp, through AmeriCamp.  He said, “I am working as a camp counsellor in the USA for the summer but will also be an activity leader for 11- and 12-year-olds and will be teaching them how to cook.”

He concluded, “The Turing trip gave me the confidence for solo travel this summer.   All the travel to Nashville helped me navigate my way through an international airport, through customs and security and to make my onward journey.   The experience also gave me the confidence to use my skills in a different way this summer so I would encourage everyone to apply for the Turing Scheme. Even if you think you are too shy to take part – like I did – you will love it, and your confidence will be brimming by the end of the trip.”

Also on the trip, Rebekah McMullan (17) from Castlewellan, a student on the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery – Patisserie and Confectionery at Lisburn Campus, said, “I absolutely loved the trip to Nashville.   I had never been abroad, and even the night before we left I was feeling very nervous but in the end I had nothing to worry about.

“I knew a few of the students from Lisburn Campus who were also travelling, but after a few days, everyone in the group were friends – and we are all still in touch.”

Rebekah continued, “The best part of going to Nashville was my placement in the pastry kitchen of a five-star hotel.  The standard was amazing.   I learnt so much about finishing a dish – the smallest detail could elevate a dish to the next level.  I was able to build on my skills and knowledge  and got to prepare tuiles, macaroons and cheesecake tartlets.   Everything looked amazing as you would expect. Getting this experience was brilliant, so I would encourage other students to go on Turing Scheme placement if they get the opportunity.” 

Rebekah, who finished her course this June, has recently secured a position with Country Kitchen in Lisburn. She concluded, “I was so shy before I went to SERC, but the lovely tutors, the course, and the trip to Nashville, have given me so much confidence.” 

Besides the increased sense of initiative, entrepreneurship, self-empowerment, and self-esteem that comes with living and taking part in an unpaid placement abroad, the students have gained and improved skills including teamwork, leadership, communication, planning and organisation, problem-solving, creative thinking, decision-making and commercial awareness.

The Turing Scheme provides funding for students to undertake a study or work placement across the world, contributing to the UK Government’s commitment to a Global Britain, by helping organisations such as SERC to enhance existing international links and forge new relationships. The delivery partner for the Turing Scheme is the Department for Education (UK).