A COHORT of jobseekers have completed a six-day hospitality course with specialist barista training, enabling them to make the perfect cup of coffee.

Men and women from Beyond Housing’s employability programmes enrolled on the course to learn new skills and help make their CVs standout to prospective employers.

Johanna Watts, employer engagement officer at Beyond Housing, said: “Regeneration projects across Tees Valley suggest up to 3,000 jobs will be created in the hospitality industry by 2021. This is a huge growth sector which provides significant opportunity for those looking to get back into work.

“Feedback from employers on past courses was that a coffee-making element would add real value to our students’ CVs. We are delighted Caffe Vinci recognises the importance in supporting local people into employment through delivering this new element.”

Beyond Housing’s New Directions programme supports people aged 15 to 29 who are not in education, employment or training with specialist support, information advice and guidance, training, mentoring, apprenticeships, job placements and further education.