Bradford hotel chief Gary Peacock has praised a recent initiative to give youngsters a snapshot of work opportunities which is to be repeated next year.

Mr Peacock, general manager of the Midland, welcomed 30 hospitality and tourism students from Shipley College to the historic city centre venue as part of Work Inspiration Week, an initiative by business-led body E3 Bradford which aims to bring business and education closer together.

The students toured the hotel to learn about promoting an establishment, met key staff and took part in a question and answer session.

Mr Peacock said: “What a fantastic opportunity to meet and engage the future hospitality professionals of tomorrow. We hope that our passion is contagious and that was certainly reflected in the intelligent questions from the students.

“We offered an insight into the industry drawing on our own experience and expertise. The E3 Bradford project has conducted a fantastic week and we are looking forward to supporting any future schemes.”

Work Inspiration Week attracted more than 250 students on visits to a range of local companies. E3 Bradford head Paul Mackie has pledged to make it a “bigger and better” event in 2014.

Saltaire-based Rance Booth Smith Architects hosted 11 and 12-year-old students from Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College who learned about careers in architecture and related disciplines, designing a live project, drawn and computer images, 3D models. sustainable design and how to achieve an energy saving building.

Hannah Cawthorne, an architecture student at the practice, outlined the different routes into architecture.

Director Linda Hollings said: “We are keen to support E3 and improve skills in Bradford. The youngsters are at an age where they probably haven’t really thought too much about what they want to do, but this is the time when they might need to be choosing the right subjects at school.

“Most won’t have stepped into a working environment, so in a brief visit they can get an understanding, which will help them know if a career in architecture or related disciplines is of interest.”

Mr Mackie, who is chairman of Rex Procter and Partners and Bradford Chamber vice-president, said: “The support of both the educational institutions and businesses has been superb and we were very proud to have the support of MP David Ward.

“We hit our targets for involvement and activity during the week but we will be setting our sights higher for next year and would like to coordinate activity with every secondary school in the Bradford area.”

Businesses supporting the initiative included Bradford District Care Trust, Buxton Pickles, Evolve, Gordons, Barclays Bank, BASF, Beaumont Robinson, Bradford Chamber, Rex Procter & Partners, Sainsbury’s, Lahore Cafe Bar, NG Bailey and Watson Buckle Accountants.