Punchestown launch paid work experience scheme for Kildare Festival

Punchestown Racecourse, global catering giants Aramark, and St. Kevin’s Community College in Dunlavin have joined forces to launch Elevate 2025. A Transition Year (TY) programme that combines community involvement in Kildare, real-world skills training, and local pride.

As a result 70 St. Kevins College transition year students will be employed by Aramark for paid work experience at the upcoming Punchestown Festival from Tuesday, April 29 to Saturday, May 3. As Ireland's largest sporting hospitality event, the army of chefs, kitchen, bar and floor staff will serve up to 17,000 corporate hospitality guests.

This innovative pilot scheme is designed to immerse local TY students in the dynamic world of hospitality, equipping them with practical skills, confidence, and insight into premium food and beverage service – all set against the vibrant backdrop of the iconic Punchestown Festival.

Over a five-week period, 119 students took part in a hands-on training programme delivered by Sam Brancato, Aramark’s Standards & Training Business Partner. The journey began in the classrooms of St. Kevin’s and culminated in live-service experience at Punchestown itself, where students worked side-by-side with seasoned hospitality professionals.

Key Highlights

- 119 TY students trained in professional food and drink service, tailored to large-scale event settings.
- 70 students employed by Aramark to work at the 2025 Punchestown Festival – gaining paid work experience in a premium environment.
- A live-service finale saw Aramark chefs and teams simulate real event scenarios, offering students invaluable hands-on exposure.

Beyond training and employment, Elevate 2025 fosters local pride by connecting young people and their families to one of Ireland’s most celebrated sporting and social events. It showcases the hospitality industry not just as a vibrant career path, but as a source of essential life skills – from teamwork and communication to professionalism and adaptability.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Aramark and St. Kevin’s on this meaningful project,” said Sue Wilson Punchestown Hospitality Manager and Elevate founder. “What started out as  chat with a friend who teaches at the school has evolved into what could be a global template. Elevate 2025 is more than a programme – it’s creating strong links in the local community, providing skills and experience that will stand to these young people wherever life may take them,  it offers paid employment on a local level."

The initiative has already garnered international interest, with Aramark leadership in the US watching closely as a potential model for rollout in American schools.

As the students of St. Kevin’s step confidently into their roles at Punchestown 2025, they carry with them not only new skills but also the pride of representing their community on an important stage.

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