Skill2Serve: Hospitality Training and Career Pathways in Waterford
August 25, 2025
Skill2Serve: Hospitality Training and Career Pathways in Waterford
Andrew Farrow • August 25, 2025
What Is the Skill2Serve Programme?
Skill2Serve is a pilot initiative from Turas Nua that provides hands-on training and industry insights for young adults interested in hospitality.
The programme is built on three key pillars:
- Technical Training: Certified barista training, delivered by Leo from Zuca Brew Coffee.
- Industry Exposure: Employer visits to Dooley’s Hotel (Margaret Darrer) and Revolution Bar & Bistro (Jim Flash Gordon).
- Personal Development: Cultural tours, career coaching, and confidence-building workshops.
By blending practical skills with direct employer contact, Skill2Serve equips participants with both the knowledge and the confidence to succeed.
What Did Participants Gain?
The programme delivered outcomes that matter to both jobseekers and employers:
- Certified Barista Skills: A recognised qualification to strengthen CVs.
- Hospitality Experience: Training sessions with Peter Taylor covering key customer service skills.
- Career Support: Coaching and one-to-one guidance from Conner English.
- Local Insights: A cultural tour of Waterford with historian Jack Burtchaell.
Led by Caseworker Hilary Yakub and designed by Operations Manager Ciara Murphy, Skill2Serve was tailored to meet participants where they were, and help them move forward with confidence.
Real Pathways, Real Outcomes
By the end of the eight weeks:
- Several participants had already secured employment.
- Others were actively interviewing.
- All left with stronger skills, clearer goals, and greater self-belief.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with employers and participants alike recognising the programme as a pathway into Ireland’s vibrant hospitality sector.
Why Programmes Like Skill2Serve Matter
Skill2Serve is all about:
- Unlocking potential in young people
- Building confidence through achievement
- Creating social recruitment pathways into real jobs
- Strengthening partnerships between employers and communities
At Turas Nua, we believe everybody’s story matters, and programmes like Skill2Serve show how inclusive recruitment and training can change lives.
Are you an employer interested in supporting or hosting future participants?
Or a young person looking for your next step?
Contact Turas Nua today
to learn more about our training and employment programmes.
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