20 Feb 2025
Tourism NI supports schools career event
Tourism Northern Ireland and hospitality charity Springboard teamed up this week to deliver a Co Antrim roadshow aimed at showcasing the variety of career opportunities available within the hospitality and tourism sector.
The event, which took place at the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in Bushmills, attracted almost 100 Year 12 students from North Coast Integrated College in Coleraine, Dalriada School in Ballymoney, Loreto College in Coleraine, St Conor’s College in Kilrea and Ballycastle High School.
During the event, the students engaged with representatives from the hospitality and tourism industry and got a taste of what a career in the sector would be like.
Partners involved in the event included the National Trust, which explored visitor experiences, customer service, facilities and sustainability with the students.
Tourism Northern Ireland offered the students the chance to emerge themselves in a range of visitor experiences across the region via specialist VR headsets.
They were also invited to take part in the organisation's famous washing machine golf challenge
Students also got the chance to explore the Giant’s Causeway, where the National Trust spoke to them about a career in tour-guiding and volunteering.
Northern Regional College and Ulster University were also on hand to offer career advice to the students.
During the event, the students engaged with representatives from the hospitality and tourism industry and got a taste of what a career in the sector would be like.
Partners involved in the event included the National Trust, which explored visitor experiences, customer service, facilities and sustainability with the students.
Tourism Northern Ireland offered the students the chance to emerge themselves in a range of visitor experiences across the region via specialist VR headsets.
They were also invited to take part in the organisation's famous washing machine golf challenge
Students also got the chance to explore the Giant’s Causeway, where the National Trust spoke to them about a career in tour-guiding and volunteering.
Northern Regional College and Ulster University were also on hand to offer career advice to the students.
Carolyn Boyd, Industry Development Manager at Tourism NI, said; “The tourism and hospitality sector offers a huge and varied range of career opportunities.
“From hotel reception and food preparation to tour guiding and silver service, there are endless possibilities.
“Tourism NI's hugely successful `Make it Here’ campaign is aimed at young people, career switchers, returners and retirees alike, encouraging them to consider a career in the tourism and hospitality sector by highlighting the often-overlooked benefits including career progression, training opportunities and flexible working."
She added: “Roadshows such as this help us promote the industry to the next generation of tourism and hospitality leaders through impressive demonstrations and virtual reality activities.”
Caitriona Lennox (FIH), Head of Northern Ireland at the Springboard Charity, said: “Our exciting partnership with Tourism NI hugely benefits the students who participate in the Takeover Day.
"The roadshow helps them to start making important decisions about their futures and opens their eyes to the broad range of careers available within hospitality, leisure, and tourism."
Further information about careers in the tourism and hospitality industry is available at CareerScope – Hospitality | Leisure | Tourism – Supporting our people, attracting talent & promoting the industry
Further information about Tourism Northern Ireland’s `Make it Here’ campaign is available at www.makeyourcareer.co.uk