120 school students from six Swansea schools enjoyed a hospitality taster day at Gower College Swansea on Tuesday 14 March.

The special occasion, organised by The Chefs’ Forum and free to attend, enabled the College to host school students and give them a ‘taste’ of what to expect from a catering course.

“We call it an insight into the world of the hospitality industry,” said Chefs’ Forum Director Catherine Farinha. “We had a brilliant line up of chefs and front of house professionals and the students lapped it up!”

Five students from Gower College Swansea have won places in the WorldSkills Long Squad after coming top in their fields in the National Finals in November.

Liam Hughes, Ben Lewis, Rhys Watts and Nathan Evans were four of the five winners in the Industrial Electronics category, while Paulina Skoczek won a place for Restaurant Services.

Former Gower College Swansea student Collette Gorvett has been named Intermediate Learner of the Year at the VQ Awards 2019.

Collette, who now works at The Ritz in London, joined Gower College Swansea in 2015 to study the Level 1 Diploma in Professional Cookery before progressing through to Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Professional Cookery, Kitchen and Larder.

Team UK – made up of the nation’s top young apprentices and students – has returned from the EuroSkills Finals in Budapest covered in precious medals and glory.

Among them is a former Catering and Hospitality student from Gower College Swansea.

Two Hospitality students from Gower College Swansea are set to represent Wales at the WorldSkills UK LIVE National Finals.

Paige Jones, who is on the Level 3 Diploma in Food and Beverage Service Supervision course, and Paulina Skoczek, who is studying Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery, will take part in the Restaurant Services Finals at Birmingham’s NEC in November.

New Catering and Hospitality students at Gower College Swansea were treated to a live demonstration as part of their induction

Former students Ben Adams and David Davies returned to the Tycoch kitchens to prepare chicken and chorizo terrine, sauté supreme of chicken with dauphinoise potatoes, butternut squash puree and panache of vegetables, followed by chocolate chartreuse mousse.

Stephen Williams, Catering and Hospitality lecturer at Gower College Swansea, was guest of honour at the recent official opening of a brand new bakery in the city centre.

The Hong Kong Bakery on Brynymor Road is owned by Peter Wong, a former student at the College.

“Peter completed his catering qualifications with us and then returned as an adult learner, taking a part time Baking and Just Desserts course with me,” says Stephen. “I was delighted to be asked to cut the ribbon to officially launch his new business venture and wish him every success for the future.”

Following an impromptu visit from Environmental Health in early March, Gower College Swansea is delighted to confirm that the Vanilla Pod restaurant and training kitchens at Tycoch have retained their food hygiene rating of 5.

Level 3 Patisserie students at Gower College Swansea have been very busy designing, icing and decorating the annual Christmas display piece.

Over the past few years, the students – guided by Learning Area Manager and patisserie lecturer Mark Clement – have produced a variety of themed cakes including a seven foot chocolate Christmas tree and snowmen ‘chilling out’ and elaborate confections called Deck the Halls, Frozen and Starry Night.

Two Catering and Hospitality students from Gower College Swansea have earned places in the Worldskills UK Squad team, which could see them representing their country at the Worldskills World Final in Russia in 2019.

Level 3 student Collette Gorvett was recently ‘Highly Commended’ in the Restaurant Services competition at the Worldskills National Finals at Birmingham’s NEC.