Case Study: Compass Group UK and Ireland
The Junior Chefs' Academy (JCA) was developed by Compass Group in partnership
with Thames Valley University in response to a number of issues:
- the decline in practical culinary skills, knowledge of real food and balanced
nutrition amongst young people
- increasing childhood obesity and reduction in family eating occasions
- less interest by young people of the foodservice industry as a career and
falling numbers in Further Education institutions.
The JCA programme runs in fifteen colleges nationwide. Local school pupils
attend for twelve Saturday mornings to learn basic cookery, nutrition, hygiene and
health and safety, communication and social skills. Compass chefs coach the
classes and students have visits from celebrity chefs such as Brian Turner,
Ainsley
Harriot and Raymond Blanc. The Junior Chefs graduate from the scheme with
certificates recognised and endorsed by the City and Guilds, HCIMA and Craft
Guild of
Chefs.
To date 1,200 young people have graduated from the JCA programme and this number
is set to grow significantly as the scheme expands to include more colleges.
More notably 68% of JCA students have migrated to full time hospitality courses.
Silver Award Winner of 2007 Community Partnership Awards: Education Category
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More Information
FDF has published a booklet called Working in the Community: the food industry in action
(pdf, 1.2Mb) . This publication features a range of company case studies and
Community
Partnership Award winners demonstrating how our members are forging
links
with
their local communities and consumers.
Last reviewed: 16 May 2008