Students serve clients, take orders and make mocktails in Gusto work experience graduation session
For the past few months, a group of students from Inscape House School have been busy undertaking work experience with the team of professionals behind Gusto Italian. They have been learning all about setting tables, making drinks, kneading pizza dough and pasta making – and they are now ready to graduate to the next level: serving customers.
With their formal shirts buttoned up, aprons on and tablets in hand, they started welcoming guests to the restaurant and kept an eye on all the tables making sure everything was set correctly. Faye, Jess and Jia Jun took orders and served food while Jake worked on the bar, shaking mocktails and making coffees. Together, they created the 5-star experience you can expect from the real Gusto team.
Jess carrying plates smiling.
Jia Jun taking orders with Mikey.
Despite being a little anxious at first, they all became more relaxed as they realised they are doing really well. Some of the guests we welcomed were family members, friends and teachers that reassured the students at every step that they are performing great.
Jess working on the tablet with the Gusto staff.
Jake making mocktails at the bar.
During the programme, they have been under the expert guidance of Mikey, Training Manager at Gusto. Mikey is dyslexic and understands the importance of tackling the barriers autistic people face in the workplace. He shares that it is valuable for him to prove to the students from Inscape House School what they are all capable of with the right support.
“It’s fantastic to see their progress from week one to now. They’ve all developed so much and you can see how much their confidence grew in this time.” - Mikey, Training Manager at Gusto
Inscape House School’s collaboration with the restaurant chain Gusto strives to give the autistic students a chance to prove themselves in the workplace but also motivate employers to foster a more inclusive environment and tackle preconceived notions and unconscious biases about autism while transforming thousands of autistic people's lives.
Read more about career education and how we prepare our students for adulthood.