On 22 November, cohorts from CEDA and the FCSI celebrated their graduation from Sheffield Business School after successfully completing a Master of Science (MSc) degree in International Hospitality Design and Management Consultancy.

A formal qualification that teaches and promotes professional excellence, the three-year program equips consultants, designers and planners with improved levels of understanding, enhanced judgment and communication and the ability to respond to both industrial and societal change.

This professional qualification was devised in affiliation with CEDA, FCSI and Sheffield Business School as a solution to the need for more training and education within the industry. It is understood that this is the only MSc for Design and Management consultants in the world.

Robin McKnight, managing director of CEDA, comments: “The hospitality industry is estimated to be worth £90billion and contributes 2.44million – or 1 in 13 – jobs in the UK. While waiters and chefs are easily recognised as hospitality professionals, there are also many parts that make up the whole and contribute significantly to this thriving industry.

'Just one of these parts is the food service equipment supply industry, estimated to be worth £1 billion alone with vocational opportunities in the design, planning and installation of commercial kitchens as well as equipment supply and servicing.'

David Bentley, chair of FCSI, adds: 'The success of this programme and the standard of dissertations produced by the graduates is testament to the continued opportunity for learning and development within our industry.

'The dinner was a well-deserved opportunity for the graduates, the first group to complete the programme, to revel in their achievements. Their commitment to the degree as well as the ingenuity of their various research projects has been extremely commendable and they have paved the way for future students.'

To meet the Class 2012 and to find out how you can benefit as a student yourself, or why as an employer you should consider investing in your team, visit www.ceda.co.uk and go to the education section.

For further information, contact

Suzana Pavic at s.pavic@shu.ac.uk

Vic Laws at vic@fcsi.org.uk

Fiona Mason at fiona@ceda.co.uk