Earlier this week a small group of our Year 10s were the very first to take part in an exciting new project to provide Co-op Academy Swinton students with some amazing opportunities, learning about catering and hospitality in person, from people already enjoying careers in the industry.

The group, accompanied by Food and Technology Teacher Miss Peters were warmly welcomed by the team at Dakota Hotel Manchester for a day packed with activities and real life experience.

Split into groups and shown around the many areas of this fantastic venue our lucky group packed so much into their visit. Here’s just a snippet from their day…

• Menu Masterclass : The group were treated to a food masterclass on seasonality and food trends, how the team at Dakota select their grill menu and the processes the chefs use to create their menus. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, after learning all about the food, the students were thrilled to sample some of Dakota’s signature dishes during a 3 course lunch!
• Kitchen Tour with Sous Chef : A whistle-stop tour around the amazing kitchen learning about safe preparation and storage of food, roles and responsibilities of the kitchen brigade. Identifying specialist equipment and witnessing the fast paced buzz of a ‘live lunch service’
• Room Tour : Following a fascinating tour of Dakota’s many luxurious rooms the students took part in a Q&A on guest experience and complaints, including a insight of the level of service experienced by all Dakota guests (not to mention some of their regular celebrity guests…Liam Gallagher, Wayne Rooney, Tom Hardy and Simon Cowell!) 
• Beverage Masterclass : Next it was off to the glamorous bar where students were asked to create and garnish their own mocktails! Once the group were familiarised with the bar they competed in a speed round which was judged by Dakota’s top Barista and mixologist Dominique!

It really was a fantastic trip and a real insight into the industry for our Year 10s. Every one of them said it had been amazing. We even received the most lovely of comments from a parent of a child who attended and it couldn’t have summed up the day better:

Hello, my daughter has been to Dakota today with her Food Technology group. I just wanted to say how much she loved it. Not just the food, the experience. Getting out of school and seeing life as it really happens and where food comes from etc. She says everyone had a brilliant time. Just wanted to say thanks for the trip and opportunity, especially after Covid…just what kids need after these past two years

Huge thanks to the team at Dakota Hotel Manchester, our students were really inspired by your enthusiasm and talents!