College teams up with hotel chain

The link between Derwen College and Premier Inn has led to three hotel rooms being built at the college near Oswestry.

Already open to tutors, the mini hotel could open to the public in the future. It is believed to be a UK first to be set up as a mini branded hotel and includes a reception area, three on-suite bedrooms and a linen room.

The college, for students with learning difficulties and disabilities, has a wide range of work based learning on site, from its cafe and restaurant to its garden centre and shop.

This week Premier Inn held an official open day to highlight the work it does at Derwen.

Some of the students who have gone on to work at the company's hotels across the country returned to the college to tell their stories.

Mary Woodhall, 26, was a student at the college in 2014 and, after work experience on the college reception asked if she could try her hand on a Premier Inn reception.

She proved so good on her placement at the Chester North inn that when she left college to return to her home in London, she was given work experience at the Greenwich Premier Inn.

"After a few months I was given a job," she said.

"I now live in supported accommodation, I go on the bus by myself and I have a job. The college has given me my independence."

She has also started writing articles for the company's on-line magazine.

Claire Brunt, 27, is working in a Premier Inn in Worcester as a domestic helper.

"I have had three very happy years with Premier Inn," she said.

Tracey Bishop, an area manager with Premier Inn, said the project was designed to give young adults with learning difficulties the time and space they need to develop skills to carve out a career in the hospitality industry.

"We already have six student who work in our hotels across the county and this summer, 10 students are preparing to make the transfer from education to employment. We have had 104 student go through the training on campus and 36 students who have so far participated in our hotels."

"All of us have skills to offer and what we are doing is creating the right atmosphere in which students can learn, with the right support."

"Just six per cent of working age adults with learning difficulties are employed in the UK and we would like to see that figure rise.

"The scheme at Derwen college grew organically, beginning in the Oswestry and Chester area with today 10 students about to move to Premier Inns across the UK to join the six we already have in work."