Stokes Tea & Coffee—one of Lincolnshire’s most iconic and long-standing hospitality businesses—has been helping to inspire the next generation of talent through immersive, curriculum-linked experiences at its Lincoln roastery. Local schools have recently taken part in hands‑on visits that shine a light on the breadth of careers within the region’s thriving visitor economy.
Working in partnership with the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, Stokes opened its doors to small groups of students for a highly engaging, STEM‑rich experience that brought the world of hospitality to life. Inside the roastery and barista training facility, students explored everything from the journey “bean to cup” to the technical variables behind espresso extraction and milk steaming.
The sessions were intentionally designed around small numbers to maximise meaningful employer interaction. With guidance from Stokes’ professional training team, students took part in hands‑on barista practice, experimented with latte art, and mapped the skills they developed using tools aligned to EqualEx. Each student also received a certificate to mark their achievement—boosting confidence and reinforcing their learning.
These experiences play an important role in showcasing real pathways into the visitor economy—an industry central to Greater Lincolnshire’s growth. By connecting classroom learning to real-world roles in engineering, logistics, customer service, food production and front‑of‑house, students gained insights into both the technical and creative sides of modern hospitality careers. As one staff member reflected, the opportunity offered “full of praise for the students, the course and the team at Stokes,” highlighting the value of authentic, employer-led encounters.
For Stokes Tea & Coffee, a household name in Lincolnshire’s food, drink, and tourism landscape, the programme strengthens early talent pipelines while demonstrating how local businesses can support the future workforce. For schools, it provides an invaluable, curriculum-linked encounter at a key stage of learners’ career planning.
The Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub continues to support more schools to get involved in high-quality workplace encounters like this—helping young people understand the breadth of opportunity across the county’s visitor economy.
