Students from City College Plymouth have visited HMS Raleigh for an insight into the Royal Navy and the role that civilian staff play in supporting the base.
The 14 students, aged from 19 to 45, are currently undertaking a two-year Business and Hospitality foundation degree.
During their time at HMS Raleigh they were able to talk with Royal Navy personnel at varying stages of their careers about their time in the Service. The students were shown the facilities used to train Royal Navy chefs and stewards at the Defence Maritime Logistics School and were invited to witness training.
They were also introduced to civilian contract staff that support HMS Raleigh in a number of ways, from managing the accommodation to carrying out cleaning, providing retail outlets and meals for the staff and trainees who live on base.
Part-time student Donna Powell, aged 30, said: “I’ve been working in catering since I was 16 and in the last year and a half I’ve started as a pub manager. Being in the Royal Navy does seem to be quite a good thing for a youngster to start off with.
"They can do an Apprenticeship and get a good career out of it. If I’d heard about it earlier I might have considered joining myself.”
The visit formed part of the students’ research for their current assignment analysing the influences and different strands within hospitality management, both now and in the future.
Alison Banks, the City College Programme Leader for Hospitality and Tourism, said: “So far we’ve been to hotels, National Trust properties, contractor caterers and coming here is the next step.
"It’s completely different to what we’ve seen before. When I was at college, no one would have suggested using a hospitality qualification and going into the Armed Forces; it just wasn’t an option.
"I’m trying to give the students a little taster of every single opportunity they may choose and show them all the different strands of hospitality business and life, so that when they end up being in charge they will have more awareness of the people they employ in the society they live in.”
The Royal Navy offers a range of careers in catering and hospitality for ratings and in logistics management for Officers.
Royal Navy chefs and stewards play a key role in supporting defence diplomacy as ships host a range of dignitaries both in home ports and abroad.
