Specialist college student celebrates five years working at Premier Inn

James Lewis, who has Down’s Syndrome, is celebrating five years as a housekeeper at the Premier Inn Wrexham North after training in Hospitality at specialist further education college, Derwen College.

James started training as a housekeeper as part of his Hospitality vocational pathway at Derwen College. Not only does he love his job, but he’s become a vital part of the hotel team thanks to his skills, hard work, and enthusiasm.

James says: ‘I like everything about my job and do it all on my own.’

The college has a small training hotel, which is modelled on a three-bedroom Premier Inn and was created with support from Novus Property Solutions. Named Hotel 751, it was the first Premier Inn training centre of its kind in the country and opened to guests in 2019. Hotel 751 comprises a reception area, three en-suite bedrooms and a linen room all set to Premier Inn standard, creating a real-life work setting for learners.

As James became more confident in his housekeeping skills, he travelled to an external work placement at Premier Inn once a week. Knowing how well he had done at his work placement, the hotel’s Wrexham North location were keen to offer him his first job.

Derwen College’s Work Experience and Supported Internship Coordinator, Abi Baker, says: ‘We are so proud of James for all his hard work during work experience in our training hotel, and then externally.’ ‘We were delighted to work with Premier Inn to help him transition into paid employment in Wrexham. Congratulations James on five years of paid employment!’

James working at Premier Inn

According to charity Mencap, fewer than 5% of adults with a learning disability are in paid work. These partnerships between specialist colleges and employers are key in improving this statistic.

Simon Ewins, Managing Director for Premier Inn and Restaurants and Whitbread Executive Sponsor for Disability Inclusion said: ‘As an inclusive employer, our longstanding college partnerships – and of course the graduates who have gone on to work for Premier Inn – are incredibly important to us. Congratulations to James for celebrating five years with us, we are incredibly proud to have him as part of our Premier Inn team and we’re delighted to be part of his journey.’

I like my job, my uniform, and friends here. My job makes me proud.

James moved out two years ago and now lives with his friend, another former Derwen College student, in supported living in Wrexham and travels independently on the bus to work. He also works at the Hope House Hospice Shop two mornings a week, where he helps sort donations.

Derwen College

Specialist further education college, Derwen College, is a vibrant environment which provides vocational and independence training for sixteen to twenty-five year-olds with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The college is proud to be a ‘place of possibility’ and its graduates are proud to contribute to their communities, with many gaining the skills necessary to go on to secure employment and increased independence. The majority of students follow vocational pathways in Horticulture, Performing Arts, Hospitality and Food, Retail and Enterprise, Business Support and Enterprise or Sports and Fitness.

Many students work in the college’s ‘Marketplace’ in Shropshire, where they learn skills working in a garden centre and shop, café, restaurant, and a small training hotel, all of which are open to the public. As the students’ skills develop, the college partners with businesses to provide meaningful external work placements.

Derwen College Marketplace

A ‘Learning for Life’ pathway helps students who aren’t yet work-ready to develop teamworking, communication and social skills. A bespoke Nurture programme also supports students with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) to transition to adulthood.

The college encourages students to thrive in all aspects of their lives, and supports students’ health, wellbeing, and self confidence with a varied curriculum of sports, enrichment, and life skills. The College has a thriving Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards programme and a vocal Student Union Board. For more information about the programmes and pathways at Derwen College, visit www.derwen.ac.uk