The latest Instep Young Leaders’ Business Breakfast gave students a chance to experience the hospitality industry from the inside, with a hands-on session hosted by Toi Ohomai that put them to work alongside students and tutors who know the industry firsthand.

Rather than sitting down to a prepared breakfast, the young leaders were challenged to create their own. Working in groups under the guidance of Marco Fuchser, Senior Academic for the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery Level 3, and Giorgio Ciraulo, Tutor for the New Zealand Certificate in Food & Beverage Services Level 3, students took on the planning and preparation of their morning meal.

They were supported by Toi Ohomai’s Level 3 Hospitality students, who stepped into the role of teachers, sharing their skills and guiding the young leaders through the workings of a professional café and commercial kitchen. From preparing food to making a range of café drinks, the experience offered a practical introduction to the pace, coordination and attention to detail required in a hospitality environment.

It was also an opportunity for the Toi Ohomai students to share their own learning journeys, talk about their qualifications and offer insight into what studying hospitality involves.

For the young leaders, the session brought several leadership skills into focus. Working together to deliver a finished breakfast required communication, problem-solving, collaboration and a willingness to try something unfamiliar. It was a reminder that leadership isn’t always about being the person in charge. Sometimes it’s about listening, learning from others and making your contribution to a shared outcome.

Marco and Giorgio also shared stories from their own careers, including how working in hospitality has taken them around the world. Their experiences highlighted an industry that can offer far more than a first job, with opportunities to travel, build transferable skills, work across different cultures and develop a career in a wide range of settings.

They also introduced students to the hospitality programmes available at Toi Ohomai, providing a clearer picture of the training pathways and opportunities open to those considering a future in the sector.

The morning concluded with a presentation from Tania Berryman, Head of School, Design, Innovation and Service Industries. Tania shifted the conversation from the kitchen to life beyond school. Her session explored leadership and the skills, attitudes and resilience young people need to not only navigate the transition into adulthood and employment, but to thrive.

It was a fitting conclusion to a morning that had asked students to step outside their usual environment, work with new people and put their abilities into practice.

Through experiences like this, the Instep Young Leaders’ Forum connects students with local industries, education providers and people who can offer real insight into the opportunities ahead. By bringing learning into working environments, the programme helps young people explore career possibilities while developing the confidence, connections and practical skills they can take into their futures.

And on this occasion, they got to enjoy a breakfast they’d made themselves.

If you want to keep up to date, sign up to Priority One’s fortnightly newsletter featuring expert insights, opportunities and free events here.