Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology [S-CAT] sought to take 29 IVT young people from a mix of backgrounds including the disadvantaged and apprentices from Shropshire, on a 2 week work placement to Athens, Greece. Participants were taken in 2 flows and were accompanied. Our project outcome was to ensure that these young people can, after completion of the placements, go on to find and sustain, a learning, training or work opportunity as well as experience a real HE "campus" lifestyle that encourages them to aim higher, as an alternative. We also wanted to ensure that we fit in with the European Skills agenda and the three main aims. These young people had already gained a vet basic standard of education. We aimed to attract both young men and women to the placements and the project was inclusive and was open to all candidates that met our selection criteria. Number and profile: There were 29 students involved (19 female and 10 males) and there were 8 members of staff. Objectives: Aiming this project at this group of learners gives us an opportunity to target people who can take advantage of a new experience which will boost their chance of employment in many ways. Other objectives include: • Raise self-esteem • Boost confidence when seeking employment locally, nationally or internationally • Forge strong links with other institutions and work placements that lead to internships • Promote development of hard and soft skills through vocational and informal learning • Experience positive outcomes: o Knowledge of another culture and language o learn and hone practical skills o attend a robust induction o share best practice o evaluate experience and disseminate to peers o forge new working relationships and friends o pass on new skills to peers and teachers – look at a different way of doing things o give rise to opportunities to enhance CV and to prepare for travel if necessitated to gain employment in UK/EU • Encourage learners to apply for work in another EU country. • Have a campus style experience which in turn will encourage them to aim higher o Keep a journal of experiences o Raise professionalism and aspiration. The host, City Unity College (Alpine Centre) was selected on the basis of its worldwide reputation for producing high calibre students for the workplace. The association has a large number of local industry partners like the Atheaneum Intercontinental, Ledra Marriot and TUI Travel, but also worldwide partners that assist with internships. The mobilities were an innovative mechanism for our Students from the Hospitality, Catering and Tourism department. Through it we engaged and distilled the importance of learning, working and gaining skills to helping them to find and sustain education and work opportunities. These types of opportunities do not automatically present themselves to our young people, instead they had been more likely to be offered trips and visits instead, which would be optional and involve a cost. There are also very few work placement opportunities in the tourism sector with large tourist hotels few and far between. The students were placed mostly in the Palmyra Beach and Emmentina Hotel with additional placements at TUI Travel and the Lebonese restaurant. Here students were placed in the kitchen creating lunches and dinner mainly and on one evening a British style pudding club. The front of house students were also placed at the two hotels and the tourism students conducted reception duties, housekeeping at the hotels and admin duties at TUI travel. During non – work time the students went to the Acropolis and Acropolis museum, Plaka, open top bus tour, Athens meat market, Pireus by night and a three Island cruise. There was also the opportunity to take Afternoon tea in the Grand Bretagne and other 5 star hotels tours. Impacts are multiple. The door is open to our students to take up internships offered by City Unity College (a unique opportunity). Long lasting friendships made with other European students. Students sample the Higher education lifestyle and as a result many more have gone or applied to University than their peer non- participant group. The Europass certification is being used by students when applying for jobs. Tourism students were able to gain full unit credit for their BTEC work experience module. Confidence levels increased in all students. Chefs were able to use the Mediterranean cuisine skills used to present the Greek meal at the dissemination event. Students have learnt some Greek that they will be able to use in the future. The experience for these students is an unforgettable one, visiting 5 star hotels including afternoon tea in the Grand Bretagne and one group meeting the Greek Prime Minister.