Alina Horodnycha and her two children fled Ukraine just after the war broke out, arriving in the UK last May, whilst her husband stayed and waited to be called up to fight. When Alina arrived, she was very depressed. She had heard about The Hotel School through other Ukrainians and was interested in participating, having previously worked as a Housekeeper in Ukraine. However without childcare, she was unable to apply for the programme.

Determined not to pass up the opportunity, Alina worked hard to apply for a visa that would allow her mum to move over to the UK and help to look after her toddler. Once this was approved, she was able to apply and successfully attend The Hotel School, as part of Cohort 16, the most recent graduates!

We recently sat down with Alina at The Hotel School to find out more about her experience of the programme.

Why did you want to get involved in The Hotel School programme?

Having already had some experience in hospitality, it was the perfect way for me to expand on that and gain further experience here in London. I wanted to learn the different standards and terminologies within the hospitality industry here, as well as develop my English language.

What does an average day at The Hotel School look like? 

Every day can be different which is what keeps the experience interesting and engaging. 

At 10am we have an arrival chat with other students then head into a couple of lessons - generally theory. At 12pm it's our lunch hour; Hotel School provides a nice lunch and that's our time to interact with other students or go out for walks together. We have more lessons until 4pm - these can sometimes involve practical sessions in the kitchen or guest speakers from various areas of hospitality to teach us something new. Sometimes we also go out on trips to visit a hotel or caterer!

What have you enjoyed the most going through the programme and what was the most challenging part? 

All of it, because of the variety and how the teachers and facilitators ran the courses - it was always very interesting and fun. The kitchen sessions were also enjoyable and they have helped me to learn new skills to take back home for my family. Visiting other venues and getting to see the process first hand within another venue was a real benefit, as well as having guest speakers and practical lessons providing different perspectives and experiences.

Oh, and on Tuesdays we also get to do some yoga, which was one of my favourite things! It was great for our physical and mental health. 

The most challenging part was the work experience in Food and Beverage. Having had no experience in this area I found it challenging and a bit overwhelming, especially the interactions with customers when I was behind the bar, with English not being my first language.

How has the training programme helped in your life outside of The Hotel School?

I’ve made lots of new friends and formed many connections; this has helped me establish a network here in London to socialise with. It has really helped me with feeling less isolated and having support.

Having more knowledge makes me more confident in my day-to-day life too; being part of the hotel school programme has helped me to understand how things work here in the UK, making it easier for me to provide for my family and allow them to have more adventures and engage in things like sports. 

What are you most looking forward to now that the training has finished? 

Having a little holiday and briefly reuniting my children with the family, then looking for work and creating a settled life here for my children. I would like to find work within the hotel sector - given my experience and greater training in housekeeping, I would like to continue this as I like to create a clean, comfortable and welcoming space for people to relax!

What will you miss most about the programme?

Everything, but specifically the teachers and the connections I have made with them. They are people who will be there for you even after the programme has finished. I will miss seeing everyone every day, having lunch together and chatting; I will also miss learning new things in this environment. But, I know that this has prepared me well for the next step in my career and life in London. 

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

Just do it! I have strongly recommended this programme to my friends who have come to the UK. It is a programme that benefits not only your hospitality goals, but helps you form friendships and connections. It makes you feel like you're at home, with family.

We are delighted to write that since this article was written, Alina has been offered a full-time role at The London Edition Hotel as a Room Attendant. We wish her all the best in her new position!