Marston's PLC signs up as first Core Partner in The Schools Hospitality Project

Marston’s PLC is taking a leading role in an education initiative which helps school pupils throughout the country understand the growing importance of the hospitality industry. The scheme also encourages young people to adopt more responsible attitudes towards alcohol.

Marston’s is the first company in the UK to become a Core Partner in The Schools Hospitality Project.  Steve Rowlands, Group Director of Human Resources, confirmed Marston's is very pleased to lead the way, particularly as millions of young people now go on to part-time or full-time employment in the hospitality sector.  He therefore believes it vital they understand how the UK now depends upon tourism, catering and other areas of the industry.

Marston's also strongly supports the project's emphasis on good customer service as a key ingredient of success in any hospitality-based enterprise.

Along with generous support for the nationwide scheme, Marston's has also nominated twelve schools close to its main operating bases in Wolverhampton, Burton, Cockermouth, Mansfield and Ringwood.  These schools have been supplied with free, ready-to-use classroom materials which are carefully designed to save busy teachers time and effort.

As a business active in the licensed retail sector, Marston’s is delighted that the classroom materials distributed to schools also encourage young people to adopt responsible attitudes towards alcohol.

The Schools Hospitality Project is delivered in partnership with teachers but is not a government initiative. Its success is due entirely to the support of BII members across the UK. BII is the professional body for the licensed retail sector.  With over 17,500 members, it promotes high standards, good employment practice and social responsibility within the hospitality industry.

Cathie Smith, Director of BIIAB said, "We are very grateful to Marston’s for this support which allows us to help teachers in a practical way while also raising awareness of the hospitality sector.

"As the project builds, our aim is to help young people understand that with hard work,
a friendly approach and professional training, they can benefit from a wide range of employment opportunities and, if they choose to, go on to build an interesting and rewarding career in a thriving sector of the economy."

Project Director, Patrick Gaffney, added his thanks to Marston’s saying, “We can only make a difference in schools if we gain the support of the wider community.  I am delighted that Marston’s has decided to lead the way in this important initiative.”