Hotel School Series:

Kseniia's Story

In continuation of The Hotel School Series, we had a conversation with Kseniia from Ukraine, who has just completed The Hotel School programme. Read more below...

What were you doing before you came to London and how are you finding the city?

I studied physiotherapy in Ukraine, but I was not able to finish my studies due to the war. I spoke no English when I came to London last year. My brother stayed in Ukraine, which has been very difficult, but luckily, my mum came with me. Having her here has helped me feel less alone and more supported during this process. I’m still trying to get used to living in London - it’s a huge city!

What did you learn at The Hotel School that has been beneficial for you?

Completing the Hotel School programme has helped me learn how to communicate with customers, take orders and serve tables, as it is all new to me. I’m still learning a lot, but the programme has also helped me understand how to pass on the knowledge, I have gained, to others.

How was your experience at our cafe, TRAMPOLINE, during the training programme?

I completed one day of training at TRAMPOLINE and it was definitely interesting to see how the selling system works and observe customer interactions. Furthermore, watching the staff make coffee and interact with the local community helped me expand my English and communication skills.

What would you like to achieve in the next year?

I would like to be more confident and less stressed when it comes to dealing with customers. I would also like to improve my sales skills. This is definitely achievable for me with the support I have from The Hotel School. I am certain that I will continue to improve my hospitality skills and communicate better with customers.

What would you say to someone who was interested in participating in The Hotel School programme?

I would encourage everyone to be involved in the programme. It’s very beneficial, especially if you don’t know much about the hospitality industry. You learn a lot of useful things that you can't just learn on the internet. Moreover, the programme also helps you to build friendships and connections with people. For instance, there were four other Ukrainian refugees in the group. It was very comforting to be able to connect with those who were in a similar situation to me, as it enabled me to feel connected to my home country whilst being so far away.

What challenges have you faced whilst working in the UK and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was my lack of English language skills. Dana, my mentor from The Hotel School, told me that a great way of learning English is to just speak the language, even if it is with mistakes. Because this will help me to improve my confidence in English. The Hotel School also helped me with registering for English classes at a college. I also know that it’s very important to keep good mental health, and that’s why I am glad that Dana told me that if I ever have any problems I can talk to her.
I feel much more confident and settled now!

Thank you, Kseniia.