in brief
Government backing
Chris Smith, minister for culture, media and sport, helped launch the Midlands festival at Birmingham Council House, where more than 40 employers took part in a careers fair. It was managed by Stephen Dunne, of Birmingham Hotel & Catering Academy, and Hilary Hall, of the Midlands Association of Restaurateurs, Caterers and Hoteliers.
Didn't they do well?
Blackpool & Fylde College and Hilton Hotels launched festival week with a Generation Game for year-10 pupils. The event provided career advice and gave students a chance to try cake decorating, napkin folding and table setting.
Hands-on Herts
Hitchin Priory in Hertfordshire hosted a world hospitality dinner to mark the festival. Guest speakers included Springboard UK's Kevan Doyle and the chairman of the 2000 festival, Viscount Thurso. The menu was designed by a second-year NVQ student at North Hertfordshire College.
Welsh theme
Wales celebrated the launch of Festival 2000 at Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire. The venue was host to more than 840 GNVQ students aged between 14 and 19. The students took part in a series of workshops featuring customer care, health and safety and marketing.
On the mersey beat
The Moat House hotel in Liverpool welcomed more than 300 students who went on to tour the city. They made cocktails at the Life Café, created dishes with chefs from the city's Marriott hotel and toured Albert Dock.
