Culinary student Rebekah Nashville-bound

Culinary student Rebekah Nashville-bound

19 March 2025

A LOCAL culinary student from South Eastern Regional College’s Downpatrick campus is in Nashville for a once in a lifetime opportunity to work in an award-winning restaurant.

Rebekah McMullan (17), from Castlewellan, a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery – Patisserie and Confectionery student, is working in the Tennessee-based King’s Hospitality Group along with eight other students from the Downpatrick and Lisburn SERC campuses.

Paul Mercer, principal lecturer in Hospitality, Management, Catering and Commercial Hospitality at SERC, is part of the team accompanying the students.

Ahead of the trip, he said: “King’s Hospitality Group is an award-winning restaurant and catering business offering high quality, home cooked Southern dishes. 

“Our students will work alongside professional chefs in a high-pressure environment, learn about different cuisines, cooking techniques and ingredients. They will also have the opportunity to flex their home-grown knowledge, skills and creativity as they prepare festive dining options for the St Patrick’s Day Festival in Nashville.”

Paul said it was a “fantastic opportunity” for the students who will be able to add new skills and international experience to their CVs.

“Previous participants of Turing-funded trips to Nashville have gone on to become successful chefs,” he said.

“They have had job offers based on their experiences in USA, which has given them the edge, and confidence, when presenting new spices and dishes to their menus.”

Also accompanying the students are lecturers Paul Monaghan, Ruth Doherty and Brian Magill.

For many of the students, the trip will be a life changing experience, giving them a unique opportunity to gain vital international experience and a better understanding of other global cultures and work practices.

Besides the increased sense of initiative, entrepreneurship, self-empowerment and self-esteem that comes with living and working abroad, the students will gain and improve skills including teamwork, leadership, communication, planning and organisation, problem solving, creative thinking, decision making and commercial awareness.

The Turing Scheme provides funding for students to undertake a study or work placement across the world.

A total of 46 SERC students will be heading off to sunnier climes to enjoy work and study placements this academic year in the USA, Tenerife, Italy and South Africa.