Students learn to cook seafood at masterclass

Pupils learnt how to fillet Cornish mackerel

Students have been introduced to Cornwall's hospitality and tourism sector through a seafood masterclass.

Year nine and ten pupils from Wadebridge School's food technology department learnt how to fillet Cornish mackerel during the session, before grilling the fish on barbecues.

Sue Willmott, careers advisor at the school, said: "The benefit of activities like this is that they inspire our young people to explore roles in hospitality and develop transferable skills for other careers."

The initiative formed part of Wadebridge School's commitment to introducing young people aged 14–15 to Cornwall's hospitality and tourism sector, organisers said.

The session aimed to show young people the county's tourism sector

They said the industry represented 15% of the county's economy, with an annual spend of £2 billion and more than 35,000 people employed across the region.

The cookery session was hosted by the Paul Ainsworth Collection, Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall Hospitality Collective and a grill master from barbecue maker Kamado Joe.

Paul Dodd, operations director of The St Enodoc Hotel at the Paul Ainsworth Collection in Padstow, said: "Teaching young people about sustainability, local produce and the simplicity of great food is essential.

"Opportunities like this show students that hospitality isn't just about long hours – it's about community, creativity and connection and loads of fun too."