Students from the University of Derby Buxton have created an insider guide to Chatsworth House designed for students studying business and tourism qualifications.

The university, which offers ‘real-world learning’ teamed up with Chatsworth to give three students the opportunity to create an education package aimed at B-Tech and A-Level students studying business and tourism courses, which is now being actively used by Chatsworth going forward.

The three tourism undergraduates not only researched the information needed to describe the behind-the-scenes commercial life of Chatsworth, but also ensured it satisfied syllabuses from A-level to degree level so the stately home’s guides can use the same tour for all levels.

The work not only had to fulfill criteria for what Chatsworth wanted, but also what the university’s academic board wanted.

“What we try and do is to take education and use and apply that into the context of the situation,” said Dr Sarah Rawlinson, assistant director at the University of Derby Buxton speaking to Leisure Opportunities. “These excursions are embedded into the students degrees and who better to advise on what young people want to know, need to know and would respond well to than our own students.

“To me it’s critical that students get this on-the-job training. Employers tell us that young graduates arrive with the education, but don’t know how to apply it. Our graduates have the advantage that with programmes such as these they can hit the ground running when it comes to post-graduate employment.”

Speaking to Leisure Opportunities, Denise Marsh who lead the student team said: “I have always had an interest in heritage sites and working on this really gave me an insight into this type of tourism.

“It was a unique opportunity and one I am sure will help me in securing future employment within the industry, as well as a fantastic chance to get behind the scenes of such a renowned heritage site, meet some of the staff and find out exactly why Chatsworth remains so successful as a visitor attraction."