Patrick Keogh

What do you do now?

I work as a Hospitality Tutor, delivering Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications through the Skills Bootcamp initiative, achieving excellent pass rates and employment outcomes.

Since leaving South Craven, I worked at Airedale Hospital in the catering department. I also travelled to Elmina, Ghana, using connections I gained through school. During the trip, I set up a community project to renovate a local school, successfully raising funds and spending a month supporting the project on the ground.

After returning to the UK, I decided to progress to bartending, a competitive field. I joined a traineeship with Barfection to develop my bar skills, before gaining  immediate employment at a high-end hotel bar in Manchester under a well-renowned bartender. I later moved to another venue as a cocktail bartender, working evening and overnight shifts, which was challenging and rewarding.

Wanting to take the next step, I moved to the Manchester suburbs and became Assistant Manager of a cocktail bar, leading teams and operations. Unfortunately, due to the state of the hospitality industry in 2023, the bar closed. Shortly after, Barfection (the training provider I trained with) was recruiting - I applied and was successfully employed within a week.

I teach in Mancheser and Liverpool with learners aged 19+ through the government-funded Skills Bootcamp initiative. I deliver a qualification in beverage service and another in hospitality management, helping learners prepare for their first roles or helping those who want to move into supervisory or management roles. Alongside, I teach barista and cocktail bartending skills. I also teach mindfulness and mindset sessions to help with learners’ personal development, resilience and management styles.

I love teaching and sharing my love for hospitality, but also seeing the personal development of learners on my programmes. Watching their confidence grow and supporting them is the most rewarding part. I also enjoy helping learners move into employment and seeing them succeed beyond the classroom.

When I first entered hospitality, I had no idea where it would take me. I certainly never imagined becoming a qualified Further Education tutor, now training to become the Quality Manager of a successful training provider. The hospitality sector is often overlooked and not taken seriously, yet it offers incredible opportunities for progression, leadership and lifelong skills, particularly for young people.

What advice would you give your 17-year-old self?

Be yourself, not who you think people want you to be. Follow your own path - don’t do something just because your friends are doing it or because your parents expect you to. 

I actually received an unconditional offer to study Physiotherapy at university, but choosing to go into something I genuinely wanted to do was one of the best decisions I ever made.

What are you most proud of?

Becoming a successful lead tutor without formal education beyond my GCSEs and A Levels. University was never for me as I’m a practical learner, so getting to this stage in my career through resilience, a can-do attitude and saying yes to opportunities is one of my biggest achievements. 

In my job, I’m most proud of seeing my learners progress in the workplace. Going to venues around Liverpool and Manchester and seeing how far they’ve come since their first day (overcoming barriers and suceeding) is incredibly rewarding.