Two Manchester hotels are helping students to boost their English language skills by offering internships within their teams.
Students attending the EF Language School in the city are being offered the chance to practice their English in a real-world business environment via the business internships at Holiday Inn Manchester West and Holiday Inn Express Manchester Airport.
The internships are open to students who have been studying English as their second, third, or even fourth language and wish to immerse themselves in an environment where language skills and communication are vital.
With a minimum duration of six weeks, the internships are available in the Sales and Marketing, Food and Beverage and Accounts teams at the hotels.
The scheme has proved so successful that the hotels have decided to welcome an additional two interns from the EF School over the course of the next two months.
Gianna De Buyserie, who recently completed an internship at Holiday Inn Express Manchester Airport, said: “As a student being interested in languages, going for a Sales and Marketing internship, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
“Little did I know there was no need to be nervous. They helped me when I needed it, and included me in their team. I got the chance to not only see how this hotel works, but also how it interacts with its guests and competitors through various platforms.”
Gianna has since returned to her native Belgium, where she will attend university.
Both hotels are operated by Redefine|BDL Hotels – the UK’s largest independent hotel management company.
Leanne Harrad, Cluster Sales Manager for Holiday Inn Express Manchester Airport and Holiday Inn Manchester West said: “Being able to offer students from the EF Language School the chance to sharpen their language skills has been great for both the interns and the hotels.
“The students get to hone their language skills in a communications-focused environment, while the hotels benefit from the help of driven, hard-working young people.
“We are keen to continue this mutually beneficial arrangement and forge even stronger links with the EF Language School.”
Sean Barrow, Customer Support & Internship Coordinator, EF Manchester, added: “Both EF and our students very much appreciate the internship opportunities at the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, and the feedback we have received from students has been nothing but positive.
“We also think that these internships can greatly benefit the company since the students’ primary aim is to practise their language skills in a professional environment so our students are more than happy to get stuck in. Many students can also contribute professional skills as some have even gained Masters degrees in their home countries in areas such as Marketing.
“So far we’ve had a successful relationship with the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express and we hope this continues in the future.”
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