News
Hospitality Spotlight for October 2019 – Xcel Bowl
- October 7, 2019
- Posted by: Matthew Cooper
- Category: Uncategorized
Here at PRP our assessors and specialist tutors are proud to support a range of employers and their teams across the growing Hospitality industry within our region. This month presents a specialised Spotlight Focus upon fantastic Hospitality placements which are local to you!
Firstly, a huge welcome to Xcel Bowl who have recently joined the PRP Family…
Xcel Bowl, a bowling and activity centre based in Johnstown, Carmarthen, was founded in June 2013 by the Towy Community Church, who renovated a disused dairy factory with the goal of creating a community space to bring local people together.
Boasting 12 bowling lanes, with the latest touch-screen technology, a popular café, and a multi-level play area for children aged up-to-seven, Xcel Bowl has become one of the key entertainment hubs in the region.
As Xcel Bowl has grown, so too has the number of employment opportunities it has created. Originally staffed by 16 people, Xcel Bowl and its associated projects now employs 46 people and engages with more than 100 volunteers every week. The centre is also a ‘Disability Confident Employer’ and provides jobs to a number of disabled employees.
Part of the wider ‘Xcel Carmarthen Project’, which also includes the Carmarthen Foodbank, Xcel Furniture Recycling and the Xcel Community Shop, Xcel Bowl invests all of its profits back into local social and environmental projects and plays a crucial role in supporting some of Carmarthen’s most vulnerable community members.
Partnering with the Trussell Trust and other local charities, the Xcel Carmarthen Project supports local people in crisis by giving away emergency food parcels, clothing, furniture, and other household essentials.
Xcel Bowl also supports local charities by offering concessionary rates on bowling for the Carmarthenshire Youth Service, Mencap, the Council Fostering Services and others.
As a testament to the importance of the social enterprise’s work within the community, Xcel Bowl has won several awards including in 2018, the Gold Award for Community Tourism and Bronze award for Sustainable Tourism at the Carmarthenshire Tourism Awards, and the Charity of the Year at the Carmarthen Town Business Awards.
Nat and Rhiannon from the Xcel team have recently started new qualifications to expand their skills in Hospitality Management. Here is what they had to say…..
Rhiannon:
“I was a little apprehensive starting this course after having a bad experience previously (with a different company), but Laura has put me at ease and I look forward to starting the course. Laura has been very informative and I look forward to working with her. The system looks easy to use and I’m sure with a little help from Laura I will enjoy the course.”
Nat:
“My experience so far is very positive. I have only just started but the process has been very informative. I am looking forward to getting started even if it looks a little daunting. Laura has been very helpful explaining how everything works. Training whilst on the job, I believe is a fantastic way to gain extra educational skills whilst still being able to work.”
Assessor comment from Laura:
“It is always a pleasure to welcome new learners in order to assist them with their professional development and overall career aspirations. Nat and Rhiannon have both already shown great initiative towards expanding their existing skills, and I have every confidence that they will achieve success through their current learning programmes within the hospitality sector.”
Also from the Xcel team, Kian is set to start a qualification in the near future with Holly who is an experienced Hospitality and Multi-Route Assessor…
Assessor comment from Holly:
“Upon being introduced to Nat and Kian at Xcel Bowl, I gained a great sense of the placement’s fantastic ethos surrounding the community in and around Carmarthen, so I’m excited to begin working with them. Kian has already shown great interest in undertaking his framework so I believe he will achieve all targets set to a high standard, with the aim of progressing further in his career.”
Kian:
“I recently found out about the project and I thought it was a wonderful way to better myself and improve on my capabilities in a way that is well supported and easily explained. I feel as though this is an option that will expand my capabilities while continuing to explore my values in the workplace.”
PRP are delighted to support this fascinating community project and we wish Rhiannon, Nat, Kian and all within the Xcel team every success with their forthcoming work-based qualifications!
Could you be the focus of our next ‘Spotlight’ feature? For more information about how we can support you and your staff to expand their professional skills through accredited Hospitality qualifications click here or call our training centre – 01646 623780.