James Ritchie-Smith
James Ritchie-Smith
James, completed his BTEC Hospitality course in 2009, and has joined the hospitality training scheme with Concorde Hotels, which will take two years to complete.
Connections with industry
He's enjoying the work very much and is certain that his attendance at the University of Derby Buxton and the reputation of our Hospitality and Catering department lead to his placement with Concorde.
The training scheme
James is currently working at the Feversham Arms, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, where he is the coordinator of the restaurant and front of house, along with private parties, weddings and hospitality events. In six months time he'll move onto working in Maidstone, Kent for a further six months as a bar supervisor. After which, he'll move onto another hotel as a kitchen chef and finally move to another hotel to work on reception.
His career ambition is to work on a cruise line so he can put all his skills to good use and travel the world.
A real family affair
James' parents met at Harpur Hill College (the former Buxton College), where they both studied Hospitality and Catering, today they now run a hotel in Leicestershire.
