Trainees sign off successful season in style

Hospitality trainees at Essex Cricket have helped members, supporters and sponsors to celebrate the end of the club’s most successful year in a quarter of a century.

Hoping their traineeships will provide a springboard into a catering career, the young trainees have worked flat out to support a busy programme of Christmas events.

Three weeks into their 100-hour placements at the Club, the group catered for more than 100 guests at a networking event for sponsors and partners attended by Essex legend Graham Gooch and Head Coach Anthony McGrath.

Employment and skills organisation Seetec helps the Club to recruit the trainees, and provides ongoing support and training, with four weeks spent in the classroom before they started their stint at the County Ground.

Amy Woolf, 18, from Chelmsford, said: “It’s really interesting getting experience setting up for massive events. Everyone is friendly and supportive, and I hope to be able to carry on in the catering industry.”

Callum Holloway, 17, from Witham, said obtaining his Hospitality and Catering and Food Safety qualifications was a benefit, as well as gaining skills and work experience. Tiana Cyrus, 17, from Basildon, added that she had enjoyed gaining experience of food service and working at the Club, and hoped to get a job in the hospitality team.

Emma Krijgsman, Seetec Regional Skills Coordinator, said: “We have been working with Essex employers for more than 30 years to help them recruit and train their workforce to meet their skill needs and develop a pipeline of talent to drive their business forward.”

Darrell Fox, Essex Cricket Commercial Manager, said: “It is rewarding to give young people a chance to get into employment, and we’ve watched many of our trainees grow their skills and confidence and go on to become valuable members of our catering staff.

“Seetec provides invaluable support, and I’d encourage other employers to look at this method of recruitment.”