A luxury Buckinghamshire hotel is marking National Apprenticeship Week (February 9-15) by launching a new apprenticeship programme in partnership with Milton Keynes College Group – further strengthening its commitment to developing local talent.
The partnership between Horwood House Hotel, a 4-star country house hotel and conference venue in Little Horwood, near Milton Keynes, and MK College Group will initially focus on two apprentice roles: a maintenance assistant and a commis chef.
The maintenance assistant will focus on property upkeep through repairs, inspections and safety checks, while the commis chef will assist the kitchen team with food preparation, cooking and hygiene standards.
By bridging the gap between classroom learning and the fast-paced hospitality environment, the initiative will provide young people in the region with a pathway into professional careers in an award-winning hotel setting.
The collaboration underscores Horwood House’s dedication to social responsibility and community investment. Following a recent £6.5million refurbishment, the 38-acre estate serves as a premier training ground where apprentices can learn from industry experts while gaining hands-on experience in a Grade II listed building.
Caroline Morrone, General Manager at Horwood House Hotel, said: “While qualifications of course matter, learning on the job, managing workloads, building professional relationships and gaining confidence during an apprenticeship is just as valuable. The hospitality business is a genuine training ground for life lessons, and supporting young people into our amazing hospitality sector is a big focus for us at Horwood House. We are delighted to be partnering with Milton Keynes College and reaching the next generation of hospitality superstars.”
Milton Keynes College Group is a major local employer and inclusive education provider serving more than 8,000 students across two campuses and national prison services, offering a diverse range of vocational courses, apprenticeships and Higher Education qualifications.
Julie Jeffery, Head of Employer Engagement at Milton Keynes College Group, said:
“We’re delighted to be working with Horwood House to support them with recruiting and training two apprenticeship roles – property maintenance operative and commis chef. Horwood House is an important local employer, and we’re looking forward to supporting them with training their apprentices and developing their talent pipeline for the future.
“At Milton Keynes College Group, we work with a wide range of employers – ranging from global companies to local small businesses – to recruit and train more than 670 apprentices. We see apprenticeships as vital in providing opportunities for people to develop the skills they need to thrive in their careers. We’re looking forward to working with the team at Horwood House on these two apprenticeships, and we hope to continue working with them on more apprenticeships and possibly other roles in the years to come.”
Karim Kassam, Owner of Horwood House, added: “We’re all committed to helping the youth of Milton Keynes to secure jobs and learn skills that will help them in their careers and their life progression. The hospitality sector offers many transferable skills, such as problem-solving and working in a team, and we’re happy to train, pass on knowledge and mentor, bringing out the full potential of our young workforce. Milton Keynes College have excellent facilities and courses steering young people into hospitality, and we’re proud to be partnering with them.”
National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make.
For more information on Horwood House Hotel, please visit https://www.horwoodhouse.co.uk/. For more information on MK College Group, visit https://mkcollege.ac.uk/.
