New Springboard and Hospitality Training Courses From LYIT

As hotels around the country plan for a season of staycations, many are facing difficulties recruiting staff. Donegal continues to be in demand among staycationers, but staff shortages are challenging the sector. To meet the growing demand, the department of tourism, LYIT, Killybegs campus has announced a series of programmes Springboard+ designed specifically for the hospitality sector.

Nicola Dunnion, Head of Department at LYIT’s School of Tourism College in Killybegs says there is a huge demand for staff in the hospitality sector and these courses are about meeting that demand: “The industry is crying out for chefs in particular”, Nicola says, “but there is also a great need for front of house and skilled bar and food sector staff. Lockdown saw many people leave the industry, with some deciding to change careers and perhaps move into jobs which they viewed as having more security in terms of year-round employment. At LYIT, we feel we have a key role to play in helping the industry retain staff through ongoing training, and we’re delighted to have eight new courses for the sector ready to go in September”.

According to the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020- 2023, prepared by the tourism recovery taskforce, the impact of Covid-19 on tourism has been existential, devastating employment, businesses and livelihoods across the sector. Tourism employs 260,000 people across Ireland and up to 180,000 of these jobs are either vulnerable or already lost. In 2019, the sector generated over €9 billion for the economy from international tourism and related carrier receipts together with domestic tourism.

The tourism sector also has an important multiplier effect on other employed sectors such as agriculture, transport, food and beverage and retail, and is particularly important to regional economies like Donegal. It has a proven track record in delivering strong recovery following previous global economic shocks, creating the largest number of jobs post the 2009/2010 recession.

Among the courses being offered at LYIT are Certificates in Culinary Skills and a Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts, a Certificate in Social Media and Web Marketing for the Tourism Sector, a Certificate in Customer Centric Selling for Tourism, a Certificate in Hotel Revenue & Digital Media Management and a Higher Diploma in Food Product Innovation & Enterprise.

Find out more about LYIT’s courses, CLICK HERE >

To find out more about the Certificate in Hotel Revenue & Digital Media Management, CLICK HERE >