Bethany and the Hilton Hotel

Making the right choice

Sunderland

Bethany started with Project Choice in 2021 and had always wanted to be a Care Worker. With Covid restrictions still in place, Bethany chose to start her work placements in hospitality and waitressing as her preferred line of work, to ensure she got the full Project Choice experience.

Prior to working at the Hilton Hotel, Bethany completed a placement at Port of Call, a local pub in Sunderland. Bethany really took to her new role and was able to practice new skills including working behind the bar, serving customers, learning how to pull pints, and taking orders.

A placement became available at the Hilton Hotel on the Breakfast Service and Bethany took on an extra placement day to have experience working in a large Hotel. Living outside of Sunderland, Bethany had to wake up at 5am to catch two buses to make the 7am shift start. Bethany uses the same systems as other staff to sign in, out and keep track of her hours and works the full breakfast shift till 11am.

Whilst on placement Bethany greeted guests, cleaned, and set tables for customers, replenished, and rotated the buffet food and kept the restaurant clean and tidy. At the end of the breakfast service, Bethany would prepare the tables for the next meal service.

After impressing the staff at the Hilton Hotel, Bethany was offered a job only 5 months into the Project Choice course. Bethany said farewell to her colleagues at the Port of Call and received a proper staff farewell, receiving leaving gifts, flowers, and chocolates. Bethany has always been a real asset to every team she worked with.

It feels good that I have a job and that I do not have to keep going to college anymore. Working feels a bit more real than just doing a work placement through college. I did not enjoy full time College, so Project Choice has helped me get into work and get a job. Everyone was so pleased for me when I got a job and I feel so good about myself and what I have done.

Bethany

Her favourite part of the job is interacting with guests and making new friends at work. Bethany loves the fact she now receives a wage and is going to treat her mother and spoil her for her birthday.

Christopher and Sonja from the Hilton Hotel have commented:

Bethany is one of the funniest members of staff that we know. She makes everybody smile when we walk in, she has the banter! We really made the right choice when choosing Bethany to join our team. She is amazing! She is definitely part of the team, fits in perfectly and is perfect for us. We support her when needed. She puts the hard work in and works well with all the team. We are going to be put her forward for an award with the hotel for her performance.

Project Choice supported Bethany to explore her work options and get the experience she needed to gain paid employment. Hilton Hotel were grateful to receive the support from Project Choice staff, to take on a young person with a disability. Through the Project Choice Supported Internship course, everyone was able to make the right Choice.