Macdonald Hotels launched a £700,000 education and training centre on 26 April at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort in Scotland.

The Centre of Applied Tourism and Hospitality Management (CATHM) will initially cater for 24 students, rising to 120 national and international students within three years. It will cater for the industry, in addition to Macdonald Hotels.

The first programmes on offer are Higher National Certificates (HNC) in Professional Cookery and Hospitality Management, in partnership with Motherwell College.

Diplomas, degrees and post-graduate qualifications in Applied Hospitality and Applied Tourism Management will follow.

The scheme is based on debt-free study, whereby students pay an initial fee at the start of a course to cover tuition, accommodation and food. Paid internships are then built into each stage of the programme to enable students to graduate debt-free.

The centre is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The University of the Highlands, Swiss Education Group and Motherwell College.