Growing up Bushmills, Andrea was always very aware of the importance of tourism to the local economy. She got her first taste of the tourism industry working part time in the Copper Kettle, a family run coffee shop in Bushmills. This was followed by a stint as a receptionist in a local hotel and, for the past few months, she has been working in the National Trust’s gift shop at the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre.
The varied experience working in some of the key areas of the industry like food and beverage, hospitality and retail, made her even more aware of the potential career opportunities in tourism.
“My work experience and the Level 3 Diploma has given me a great foundation and I’m really looking forward to building on this at university.”
Andrea says she enjoyed being able to focus solely on tourism related subjects at the College.
“I did 9 GCSEs at school so was always having to switch my focus between the different subjects but everything we did as part of the Level 3 Diploma was related to travel and tourism which was great.
“The Level 3 Diploma involves a lot of practical projects and assessed coursework and a major bonus is there are no exams or results to worry about. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of a career in travel and tourism.
Level 3 Diplomas are highly regarded by employers. Some students go directly into employment when they finish the two year diploma, while for others, it is a progression route to higher education.
Northern Regional College offers a wide range of full time and part time courses across its campuses in Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Magherafelt and Newtownabbey. These include entry level courses right up to Foundation and Degree programmes, covering different vocational areas such as Construction, Engineering, Sport, Health & Social Care, Counselling, Computing and Business.
If you already know what subject you are interested in, you will find details of all the courses offered at the College on www.nrc.ac.uk but if you are undecided and still trying to figure out what to do next, the College’s team of professional careers advisors can guide you through the different options and help you choose a course that is best for you. The open enrolment days at all Northern Regional College campuses on Thursday 16 August and Thursday August 23 are an excellent opportunity to get information and guidance on specific courses from College’s experienced staff. No appointment is necessary. Just bring a copy of your results and drop in anytime between 9 am and 7 pm.
