A job in hospitality is not everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, to do a good job you really need to love it, says Christoph Hoffmann.

The vice-principal of the Edge Hotel School at Wivenhoe House, Essex University, explains: “To work in hospitality you have to be passionate about the industry.

“We see it in our students. To apply for a place here they want a career in hospitality. Many have already done some work in the industry, though it’s not a prerequisite to apply for the degree. They have made their choice on career before they come here, not the other way around.”

The Edge Hotel School on the Colchester campus is the first of its kind in the UK. Continental Europe already trains hospitality students in a practical environment, which ensures they enter the workplace ready to jump in, rather than struggling to apply theory from the classroom.

The school opened for business in June 2012 and the two-year degree course, which does not stop for the usual holidays throughout the year, will see its first graduates in July this year.

Students come from all over the country to study there, learning everything from front of house to housekeeping, restaurant work, kitchen work, conferencing and events and hotel management.

Emma Sutton, 20, who lives in Colchester, will graduate in September this year. She fell into hospitality after taking on a part-time job at a country house hotel while at college in Cambridge.

She says: “I fell in love with it. I found out about the school through college and thought it would be perfect to do a practical course. It’s good to learn the basics and work your way up, everything from cleaning the toilets and understanding what goes into different roles, their strengths, their struggles, which will help me progress when I go on to find a job.”

Mr Hoffmann says: “We want to see students who have a hunger for hospitality. We have students of all ages and from various parts of the country, which offers a good learning experience.

“If anyone is interested in joining us they need to be sure they understand what is involved. They can do this by getting some work experience in hotels beforehand, though a job in the industry is not a criteria to gain a place.”

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS There is an entrance criteria to meet, just like any other degree course, if you want to study for the two-year hotel management degree at the four star Edge Hotel School, at Wivenhoe House, Essex University.

Potential students need 240 points, the equivalent of five GCSEs grades A to C, including in English and maths.

Competition is becoming fierce for the 30 places available at each of the three intakes, January, May and September.

The degree, which was developed by academics and industry professionals, takes just two years to complete, which means the cost is lower. But students must work through the holidays, so no month-long Easter and Christmas breaks, and no three-month summer.

Hospitality benefits from an organisation that offers the right students scholarships to study.

Most recently the Savoy Educational Trust, which aims to develop education, training and qualifications in hospitality, offered two scholarships, worth £3,000 each, to students attending the Edge Hotel School.

The money goes towards the fees for the degree.