TOMORROW’S holiday park industry leaders are being invited to boost their management and sector skills via a specially created university course being launched this November.
The intensive 3.5 day programme at Bangor University in Gwynedd is the result of a collaboration between the university’s Albert Gubay Business School and the British Holiday & Home Parks Association’s Next Generation Network (NGN).
Just 20 places have been allocated on the inaugural course to ensure that attendees benefit from close personal engagement with tutors and with their fellow students.
According to Isabel Marshall, Vice Chair of the NGN, the goal is to equip the upcoming generation of park leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive:
“The course will be a fantastic chance to step away from the day-to-day business of running a holiday park and to get immersed in fresh thinking about domestic tourism,” she said.
“A mix of expert tuition, hands-on exercises and group discussions will broaden existing knowledge and spark fresh ideas for tackling the challenges facing our sector.
“Collectively, we generate £7.2 billion for the UK economy. By investing in our future leaders, we can build on this and ensure that the holiday parks industry continues to develop and diversify,” added Isabel.
The course will include a field study tour, allowing attendees to gain hands-on insights into various aspects of business management.
It’s also expected, said Isabel, that attendees will benefit from building bonds with others on the programme, and by sharing experiences and exploring new creative ideas.
The BH&HPA Next Generation Network now has nearly 200 members representing all types and sizes of holiday and residential parks from across the UK.
Responsible for structuring the course in partnership with NGN has been Dr Linda Osti who is Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management at the Albert Gubay Business School at Bangor University.
With a special interest in developing sustainable tourism, Dr Osti believes that the programme will enable attendees to gain fresh perspectives on a wide range of challenges the tourism industry is currently facing.
There is more information about the course, and the chance to register an interest in attending, on this link created by the NGN.