Certificate in Hospitality

Ashleigh Isaacs delivers service with a smile at the Tea Total Cafe in Milford. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

The course

The Academy NZ North Shore has tailored a 30-week foundation programme for non-academic students who want an introductory course in hospitality.

This free (Government-funded) NZQA-recognised (level two) course has been designed to equip students under 18 years old, who have fewer than 40 NCEA credits, with the practical skills required to promptly find gainful employment once they leave high school.

Ideally suited to school leavers who have studied food technology and hospitality - or those who have not previously enjoyed the traditional tertiary environment - key course content includes:

Hospitality industry management skills: Comprising care and timeliness as an employee, personal presentation in the workplace and job-seeking skills.

Cafe services: Comprising non-alcoholic beverages and service to tables, setting and clearing tables for meals, carrying and clearing plated meals within the hospitality industry.

Coffee & barista: Including coffee equipment and recipes, preparing and presenting pressed coffee and filter and espresso beverages.

Management skills: Including performing calculations for the workplace, working with diverse groups, and food safety methods in a food business.

Commercial kitchen cooking skills: Including preparing and cooking food (by poaching), preparing fruit and vegetables and presenting sandwiches - all in a commercial kitchen.

Preparing and presenting salads for service, handling and maintaining knives, preparing and cooking food by grilling, braising and stewing in a commercial kitchen.

Once they have passed the 45 credits required to complete The Academy NZ Certificate in Hospitality, students can proceed to the (level two) National Certificate in Hospitality in either cookery or food and beverage.

Students who attend daily classes from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, combining both practical and theoretical training, are internally assessed on their performance over the entire course.

Interested applicants are interviewed, and applications close when the programme's 10 places have been filled.

The course is run twice a year at the North Shore campus, starting January 17 and in July (date to be confirmed).

What graduates think

Ashleigh Isaacs, 16
Front of house, Tea Total Cafe, Milford
Graduated 2004

Being more practical than theoretical, the course gave me the confidence to go from high school direct to my first fulltime job in the hospitality industry.

It gave me some really valuable hands-on insight into what's required when working in a busy cafe environment, including customer service skills that are needed to succeed in today's hospitality industry.

From day one I've been able to put all my training into practice. I've learnt everything from the art of coffee-making, handling front of house, preparing food and putting it on a plate, helping with the cooking of muffins and scones through to full meals.

Smaller class numbers mean you get a lot more one-to-one time with the tutors.

This year I plan to take the level two NZQA hospitality course with a view to becoming a bar manager some time in the future.

I was awarded third place in the "table to hot" event - the art of cleaning and then dressing a table for five-star dining - at the Culinary Fare 2004.

What employers think

Kerri McCrea
Manager, Tea Total Cafe,
Milford

Even though Ashleigh is fresh out of training I can tell she's been equipped with some very sound skills essential for the food and beverage, cafe and hospitality industry.

This is best reflected in her initiative, general attitude and willingness to learn new things quickly on the job.

From my observations the skills she's acquired during this course have been immediately transferable into a real cafe situation.

Just from the way she conducts herself at front of house I can immediately tell Ashleigh's had some initial training.

The confidence she's gained from the course, plus her bubbly personality, make her a very promising employee.

The qualification

The Academy NZ Certificate in Hospitality
The Academy NZ North Shore
Phone: 09 443 7640