STUDENTS will get hands-on experience working in a busy hotel as part of a new link-up with a national hotel chain.

Blackburn’s Premier Inn, in the Cathedral Quarter, has joined forces with Blackburn College to offer its hospitality students real-life work experience.

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Students on a range of level 2 and level 3 hospitality courses will be learning the ropes at the hotel chain, the UK’s largest hotel brand, with more than 50,000 rooms and 700 hotels.

As part of the work experience they will take part in the ‘How To Be Brilli@nt Programme’, a Premier Inn staff initiative which will see students complete a work booklet in order to self evaluate their performance.

The partnership between the college and the Premier Inn was formalised by the signing of a memorandum of understanding, a contract signed by both parties outlining the terms and conditions of the work placement programme.

Nick Hall, business engagement manager higher level skills, said: “We are pleased to be working with the Premier Inn who have agreed to facilitate work placements and work-based projects at their hotel in Blackburn.

“This opportunity offers students the chance to develop employability skills in a real-life setting.

“Premier Inn is such a large employer nationally and undoubtedly employment opportunities for our students will be created as a result of this collaboration.”

The agreement will enable one student each week to attend the hotel and gain valuable real-life experience in the hospitality sector.

A minimum of 22 students will be given the opportunity over the term of the agreement, which will run until at least May 2017.

Ian Callaghan, manager of Blackburn’s Premier Inn, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Blackburn College students to the Premier Inn to learn more about the business and the hospitality sector.

“We believe that having the opportunity to gain first hand experience of the industry will help them on their way to a successful career.”

During their placement, students and their tutors will get feedback from their supervisors.