Businesses from across the Ballymena area have raised £12,500 for the Northern Ireland Hospitality School through its annual Dragon Boat Race.
Now in its fourth year, the fundraising event brought together ten teams representing Galgorm Collection, McKeever Group and Tullyglass House Hotel, with support from local businesses including Henderson Group, Britvic Ireland, Richmond Marketing and Smyth’s Engineering.
Funds raised through the event will support the School’s training academies, helping participants develop skills and gain experience for careers within Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector.
Established in 2021 with initial funding from The Gallaher Trust, the Northern Ireland Hospitality School was founded through a collaboration between Adair Arms Hotel, Galgorm Resort and Tullyglass House Hotel.
The School was created to support skills development and employment opportunities within hospitality and has since supported more than 250 people through its bar, chef and restaurant academies.
A number of graduates have secured employment within local hotels, while others have progressed into supervisory and management positions.
Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the success of this year’s Dragon Boat Race and incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, supported the teams and contributed to such a fantastic fundraising total.
“The Northern Ireland Hospitality School is all about creating opportunities for people to develop their skills, build confidence and take the first steps towards rewarding careers in hospitality. The funds raised will go directly towards supporting and enhancing our academies, helping us continue to deliver practical training and open doors for future talent.
“To see so many local businesses come together in support of that ambition is hugely encouraging. It demonstrates a real commitment to investing in people and ensuring our hospitality industry has the skilled workforce it needs for the future.”
Competition on the River Lagan saw teams take part in a series of races, with Roe Valley Resort’s ‘Roe Row Row Your Boat’ team taking first place ahead of Galgorm.
Eddie McKeever, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, said: “The Northern Ireland Hospitality School plays an important role in connecting people with the skills, training and opportunities they need to build successful careers within our local hospitality sector.
“Events like the Dragon Boat Race are a fantastic example of what can be achieved when businesses come together with a shared purpose. Not only was there some great competition on the water, but the generosity and enthusiasm shown by everyone involved will make a meaningful difference to the work of the School.
“I’d like to thank all the participating teams, sponsors and supporters for making the event such a success – it was a brilliant family day out, with food, music, dancers and even a few cheer leaders joining in on the fun. Their continued commitment is helping us invest in the next generation of hospitality professionals and strengthen the future of our industry.”
The Dragon Boat Race forms part of the Northern Ireland Hospitality School’s wider fundraising activity supporting training, skills development and employment opportunities across the hospitality sector.