“I was with Hayley and Louiza for two years and I cannot thank them enough for all their help,” said Emily. “They taught in a way that made you remember everything that you had learnt, they had endless stories to share from their time as Cabin Crew and were always on hand to help. Whether it was to do with work or my personal life they were always there for a chat and were so encouraging of my career even after I had left college.”

She added, “I wanted to do this job for a while as I really wanted to get out there and see more parts of the world. I also love chatting and learning about people's cultures and backgrounds. I enjoyed my course a lot and think it gave me a great head start into the industry. I learnt a lot and it gave me a good insight into the world of travel and tourism.”

They had thrilling adventures like the Afternoon Desert Safari and fun times at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. Exploring famous spots like the Dubai Mall and relaxing on local beaches and hotel rooftops were highlights. Everything was smoothly organised, from transportation to flights with Emirates, making sure their trip was hassle-free. Overall, they got fully immersed in Dubai’s amazing experiences!

Speaking about the trip, Hayley Watkinson, Travel & Tourism lecturer in Hastings, said, “We stayed in the Disney Hotel Cheyenne for three nights and had a two-day hopper pass park. We travelled via coach and tunnel outbound, and by ferry on the way back.

“Learners gained valuable insights into what makes the travel industry great, how to enter the industry after college, and the fact that it is the largest employer. They also learned about the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed, various roles and progression routes within the industry, and the importance of aiming high.”

The Travel & Tourism department at Hastings said: “It wasn’t just fun – it was also a valuable learning experience that brought their studies to life. We’re so proud of our students for embracing new cultures and experiences.”

The project gave students the chance to apply their classroom learning to a live brief, while building the confidence, communication and planning skills that are essential in the travel, tourism and events industries.

East Sussex College Eastbourne students studying Level 3 Travel & Tourism spent two days at JARE Airline Training Centre in Bournemouth completing their Cabin Crew SEP training at the start of March.

“The light show and fireworks ended a perfect day with the amazing drone show to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris.”

Miah added, “The support from my tutors Louiza and Hayley was amazing! They would always be an email away whenever I needed them and they provided great support throughout my course.”

Jeanette added, “The training centre commented on the impeccable behaviour of the students and their outstanding participation in all the tasks taught.”

The Italian students, who are from the Amalfi Coast, then switched roles and spent some time to tell the Hastings students about the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, Pompei and nearby Naples.

She added, “I found the courses at college fun and exciting. My tutors were Hayley Watkinson and Louiza Tryphonos. I couldn't have asked for two better women to look up to. They gave me and my classmates so much support throughout our course and felt like no question was a silly question. You could really tell that they want the best for their students and I give all credit to them for getting me to where I am now.”

“She shared stories from her time working at Gatwick and on cruise ships, giving our students a better understanding of what to expect in these roles. Her enthusiasm and passion for the industry were truly motivating.”

Plan travel in advance

Hayley Watkinson, Travel and Tourism lecturer at East Sussex College, said, “One of the students’ assessments is to attend an assessment day - it's good practice to have industry professionals involved. We were so lucky and honoured to have Devon, a member of Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew with us. Devon helped welcome students in for registration and assessed them during their group interview scenarios on assertiveness, body language, communication skills and how well they contributed.”

Louis Smith, Travel & Tourism alumnus who studied at East Sussex College’s Hastings campus, has landed his dream role with UK airline EasyJet as cabin crew.

Visitors who travel to Hastings, particularly by bus or train will now be able to benefit from the Centre’s excellent new location, right next to Hastings’ railway and bus stations.

On the Travel & Tourism course we learn about resort reps, tour operators, travel agencies, UK airports and airports worldwide. We are taught about customer service, health and safety procedures, and how an organisation works. We also learn how politics, the economy and society, impact UK tourism.

"No two people travel the same sight loss path, there is a vast array of reasons why people suffer sight loss. But there is hope. Further learning is available and accessible to people like me. To know I’m working towards something is a huge deal – I will work again, just you watch me.”

If you can't travel to any of these other places, then why not explore your own neighbourhood? Become a tourist for the day and walk down the roads and alleys you don’t usually go down. Challenge yourself to take right turns when you would normally go left. Mix it up a bit - it's amazing what new things you will discover that have been on your doorstep the whole time.

Now, she’s ready to travel the world, meeting new people and embracing the exciting challenges of life in the skies.

https://www.escg.ac.uk/blog/former-travel-and-tourism-student-takes-to-the-skies/

Despite the difficulties of international travel, the numbers of overseas students studying academic and vocational courses have increased compared to last year. This is welcome news for the local communities and host families who give overseas students such a wonderful experience and keep bringing them back to Sussex.

...you may even reduce your travel expenditure and save money.

Despite the pandemic limiting global travel, East Sussex College has continued to recruit students from a wide range of countries. In this article, international director, Mark Allen, explained how it all works and the critical role of the network of local host families and businesses.

You can also check out your travel routes to and from campus. If you plan to get the train or bus, make sure you check timetables as some services have been altered due to the current pandemic situation. Do you know where the nearest stop is? How will you make your way to college from there? We have useful travel information on our website for getting to Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes. You can also look at Southern Rail and Stagecoach to plan trains and buses.

Hannah Cross, has turned her passion for the travel industry into a thriving career.

If you’d like to follow in Rosie’s footsteps into the travel and tourism industry, please click here to view all of the available courses on offer.

“Sponsorship will enable us to secure kit and go towards travel costs for our teams,” says Laurence Collier, Head of Curriculum, Sport & Public Uniformed Services, at East Sussex College. “Our teams travel and compete with colleges across the region. Having a company support to our teams is a great way to get the business name out to a wider audience. Eastbourne has a wonderful community feel and a link with local or local businesses and our sports teams also promotes the importance of education and physical activity."

Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum (Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering, Business, Travel & Tourism at East Sussex College adds, “It’s been fantastic to welcome Paul to the College to run this workshop for our students. He’s unique flair and approach to style has been inspiring. Working with renowned industry stylists is critical for our students and complements their creative learning here at College.”

I went to school in Eastbourne, so I had to travel to Hastings each day. I learnt so much over the three years, about all sorts of treatments, but perhaps even more importantly, how to present myself, conduct myself, and care for my clients. Even the travelling helped me to develop as a person. I grew in confidence and gained independence from day one.

Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum (Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering, Business, and Travel & Tourism) at East Sussex College, says, “We are thrilled that our students have chosen to work alongside and support Raystede. It’s opened up so many opportunities for learners, not just in Hospitality and Catering, but across the entire College. We are excited to work with the charity this year and explore different ways to support each other.”

“It’s mainly through my work and the travelling I have done. Obviously travel is a major pollutant as well, but through the journeys I do, we try to understand what we’re doing to our world. We try to capture that on film and show people. I’m totally passionate about it and really believe in it. In some ways I think it helps that I wasn’t bird watching from the age of eight. Maybe I love it more as a result. Also, what I did before TV, writing books about terrorism and all this mad scary stuff, that helps to give you context for my concerns now. Yeah, I’m worried about nuclear weapons and terrorism, but I also know with certainty from what I’ve seen across the planet that what we’re doing to our world is a great threat. I can say it with some legitimacy, because I’ve seen it.”

She styled her way through the photographic heat of the competition and will travel to Barnet & Southgate College, in London, on Friday 3rd May to compete for a place in the grand final.

If you're interested in a career in air cabin crew, check out the travel and tourism courses at East Sussex College.

"I literally have my dream job," Joy shared. "I create work for top brands, travel, and design from my laptop, as well as spend long practical days in the studio. I employ other creatives and enjoy the freedom—and commitment—of having my own business. I feel lucky and fulfilled every day!"

“I’m a Motorsport commentator and currently cover the FIA World Rally Championships and get to travel around the world following the action.”

I choose ESC because I knew it was a good college. I had other options but I chose to travel to Lewes. It took me two hours to get to college, I had to leave at 7am to get here for 9am, but I did that because I knew it was a better college and I didn't want to settle for somewhere average. I wanted to push myself and I knew that this college produces such amazing therapists and I could see from Kaiya's win in Abu Dhabi [at the last World Skills in 2017] that the students do really well here.

She added, “I chose ESC because I knew it was a good college. I had other options but I chose to travel to Lewes. It took me two hours to get to college, I had to leave at 7am to get here for 9am, but I did that because I knew it was a better college and I didn't want to settle for somewhere average.

I now belong to a new tribe of people, people like me who understand - and I feel liberated. No two people travel the same sight loss path, there is a vast array of reasons why people suffer sight loss – we have sight loss yet all see differently. Some have some useful vision and some don’t have any and all this is accounted for on the course. One of the many special attributes to this course is that Keith and Dave tailor the content to the individual needs of the student on a one-to-one basis. An example of this is that a light sensitive student will need the classroom environment to be in complete darkness meaning that Keith and Dave must also learn to teach in that same darkness……imagine that for a moment.

In Hastings, Daisy Chitty Williams secured outstanding straight A*s in her three subjects Fine Art, Graphics and Psychology. Daisy did have plans to travel this summer, but due to the Coronavirus has put those on hold and will join the Art Foundation course at Station Plaza with plans to study Fine Art in London afterwards.

Holly’s career really took off with her role in Celebrity Race Across the World, where she was part of the recce team in Brazil, scouting travel routes and checkpoint locations. “Our job was to see if the route planned by our route producers was possible, and they would often send us on the roads less travelled… We also scouted all the checkpoint hotels and found contributors who would be interested in having the celebrities work with them… It was an incredible experience I’m very grateful to have been a part of,” she said.

Should your submission be selected as a winner of the competition you will have the opportunity to meet Stephen at his gallery in London with lunch and travel paid for. The three winners from each category will receive a £100 gift voucher and the three runners up from each category will receive a £50 voucher. The winning prizes will also give six lucky students the opportunity to receive a signed copy of his book and a copy of a signed Stephen Wiltshire print.

I live in Lindfield, near Haywards Heath, and it takes me about an hour to get to uni, but I love it. It is well worth the travel. I’m there two days a week from 9am until about 4:30pm. I fill up my coffee cup each morning, jump in the car and drive to Eastbourne. I don’t get much time to myself as a mum, so I really enjoy the social side of class.

“There are around 300 body shops who would benefit from using us as we are within easy reach, offering advantageous cost savings. Other sites will often require candidates to travel and pay for accommodation.”

Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum for Business Services, said, “Oliver’s talk was really inspirational for our Business Services students. A lot of the industries these students will be working in - travel, hairdressing, catering - will have eco-friendly practices in place. These students are the next generation workforce, so we are encouraging them to think about their own practice at College. How much do we throw away? What can we do to make ourselves more eco-friendly? Volunteering with businesses like Plastic Free Eastbourne iis another way to help and enables students to complete their work experience. We are grateful for Oliver taking the time to visit us today.”

Sleep is a very powerful tool! Getting enough sleep will help to keep you in tip-top condition. It’s easy to let a sleep routine slip if you don’t need to travel to college, but try to keep things as normal as possible. Perhaps you’d be forgiven for hitting snooze once or twice more.

With the population of Burgess Hill set to grow in the coming years, GTR worked with the local community and Network Rail to make sure the station offers passengers a pleasant travel experience.

Guests were able to take part in virtual reality gaming, organ dissection, exercise and fitness testing, hair makeovers, beauty manicures, and design and printmaking. They were also able to take a closer look at world travel destinations, meet college alumni, assess business plans, see how unpopular foods can be made tasty, and watch rehearsals for an upcoming theatre performance.

The artwork will be judged by a panel of creative experts from the college, as well as Stephen, to decide a winner and runner up in each age group. The winning prizes will give six lucky students the opportunity to travel to London to meet Stephen at his gallery, enjoy some lunch and receive a signed copy of his book, See The Bigger Picture. The three winners from each category will receive a £100 gift voucher and the three runners up from each category will receive a £50 voucher.

East Sussex College’s Hospitality & Catering department named Raystede as their chosen charity to support this academic year, with money raised from dinners and special themed evenings going to the charity. Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum (Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering, Business, and Travel & Tourism) at East Sussex College, says:

The Rally starts on Thursday 5th September in Reims in France. From there the team will drive across to Stuttgart in Germany, then on to Salzburg in Austria, followed by Venice in Italy. The last leg of the rally will see them travel to the picturesque Lake Como.

Kier has been appointed by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to construct a new £60m acute inpatient mental health hospital in Bexhill. Kier designs and builds construction and infrastructure across a range of sectors that are vital to life, work and travel across the UK.

Leah Darlein Weinrich completed her A-Levels in Media Studies (C), German (A), Criminology (C), and Sociology (C). Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Tutors were so supportive, they gave me constructive criticism, just amazing to work with throughout the course. I’m hoping to travel the world and take a gap year next! I’d absolutely recommend my courses, especially Sociology. My tutor Karen is so lovely.”

Biram is a current Vice Principal at Sussex Coast College and is a qualified chartered accountant, who is on the national College Finance Directors Group. He has been in the sector since 2005, and previously worked in a wide range of sectors including aviation, travel, defence and computer games, having started his career as an engineering apprentice.

It was a great experience and went even better than I thought - one of our videos went viral and was shared on national news outlet websites after one of the candidates made a few controversial points. It was a real insight into how news can travel so fast in the digital world.

Getting organised is crucial for a stress-free start to college. Take some time to sort out the basics like pens, pencils, and notepads, as well as any course-specific equipment or uniforms you might need. Also, familiarise yourself with the campus area and plan your travel routes if you'll be commuting by bus or train. Check timetables, locate your nearest stops, and plan your route in advance. If you're taking the train, consider getting a 16-17 saver railcard for a 50% discount on rail fares, costing only £30 a year: www.16-17saver.co.uk.

Tommy also discussed his path to success in Australia’s competitive culinary scene, offering valuable advice to aspiring chefs. On advice he’d give to future students, Tommy said, “It’s hard! You’ll miss out on social gatherings, but it can be the most rewarding thing you do as well. There’s an opportunity for travel, to be a national champion and representing your country on an international level through food.

Further opportunities for the Business students include a webinar with the Houses of Parliament which includes a Q&A with local MP Caroline Ansell, and a visit to Brighton Pier next month focused around customer service. Year-one students go on work experience in March and year twos in May. Debra, whose background includes recruitment, Travel & Tourism and Business Travel is keen to support her students in enrichment activities and placements.

Uber will soon be taking to the sky as they unveiled a full-scale model of a hybrid-electric aircraft called Nexus at CES. Together with Bell Aerospace, they have built the aircraft that has 2.5metre articulated ducted fans, which enable it to lift off the ground vertically like a traditional helicopter before rotating 90 degrees, allowing for faster air travel. Uber say that the aircraft will be able to carry four passengers and a pilot and is able to cover a distance of 240km within an hour. Flight testing will begin in 2023 with commercial operations following shortly after.

The apprenticeships are run in partnership with Sussex Skills Solutions, the training and apprenticeship arm of East Sussex College. Apprentices are taught core skills in business administration and are given the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills in specific areas of Local Government. For example, audit and investigations, legal and compliance, revenue and benefits, and waste management. The Council also offers a travel allowance of up to £2,000 to help the apprentice cover the cost of getting to work alongside other incentives.