A GROUP of Spa and Complementary Therapies students from Cardiff and Vale College are set to gain valuable experience of the world of work in a top-flight spa after being taken on by the Vale Resort Hotel.

The six students will be working at the four-star hotel’s luxury spa on a part-time basis, and will be called in for work when they are needed.

Vale Hotel Spa Operations Manager Debbie Searle visited the College to give a talk to the students and then observed them at work, finally choosing six who had expressed an interest in working at the spa.

“We are looking to take on some part time therapists while the students are still on their courses, with a view to making the arrangement a bit more permanent," said Debbie, a former CAVC student herself.

“I have been looking at the girls’ technique and their rapport with clients - whether they make sure their client is the most important person in the room and that they do not get distracted.

"I was also looking at how they manage their time as that’s a really important part of the business of running a spa. I’ve chosen six students and I have been very impressed by the extremely high standards that I have seen today.”

Next, the six students will be taken to the Vale Resort Hotel for an induction. They will each be given a few hours’ work which will increase as they progress at the spa.

College staff have adapted timetables for the learners to ensure that they complete every aspect of their course.

CAVC head of hairdressing, beauty and complementary therapies Ceri Evans said: “Cardiff and Vale College has close links with a range of top businesses, and the relationship we have the Vale Resort Hotel is a key example of how we ensure that our students receive education and training that is relevant to their chosen careers while also meeting the needs of employers.

"This will be a fantastic opportunity for our Spa and Complementary Therapies learners.”