Tranmere Rovers and De Vere celebrate opening of hospitality academy

Tranmere Rovers players helped to celebrate the official opening of the De Vere Academy of Hospitality at the club’s Prenton Park stadium.

The academy will provide hospitality and customer service apprenticeships to 300 young people from the Wirral each year.

The event was attended by Tranmere Rovers players, manager Les Parry, chairman Peter Johnson, De Vere Academy of Hospitality's managing director Kellie Rixon and group chairman Andrew Coppel CBE, as well as dignitaries from Wirral Council.

Kellie Rixon said that "This academy is about creating a sustainable skilled workforce that will benefit the visitor economy in the Wirral and the North West.

"Most of our apprentices were not in education, employment or training when they started and just needed an opportunity to flourish – thankfully they are grabbing it with both hands and we are delighted with just how well they are doing."

Food for the event was cooked and served by the Academy’s first intake of apprentices, now in their sixth week of training. Apprentices also have the opportunity to gain paid work placements with businesses throughout the Wirral, with students securing placements at venues such as the Michelin-starred Fraiche in Oxton and the Leverhulme Hotel.

Liz Dicastiglione, commercial sales manager at Tranmere Rovers, said: “This is great news for the Wirral region as it is creating hundreds of training and job opportunities for our young people.

“There is a high unemployment rate in the Wirral and some of the areas are amongst the most deprived in the country. Tranmere Rovers is delighted to be able to make a difference by teaming up with De Vere on this Academy."

Wirral Council Leader, councillor Jeff Green, added; "It has taken a lot of time and hard work for this Academy to come to fruition, and I must congratulate De Vere and Tranmere Rovers in implementing this programme, as well as the apprentices, who have been so professional today."

The De Vere Academy is a unique private/public initiative. The De Vere Group, owner of 65 major hotels and venues across the UK, is working with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and is supported by local government.

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