Springboard receives prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award
Leading hospitality charity Springboard has been awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award. This prestigious award recognises outstanding work in empowering and helping support 16-25 year olds from across the UK.
This is a one-off award created to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee and 20 years of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), with the awards personally approved by His Majesty The King. Each charity, including Springboard, will be awarded a handwritten certificate with The King’s signature presented at one of the Royal Garden Party events in 2023.
The award commends Springboard’s extensive work in helping disadvantaged and unemployed people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of society to secure jobs within the hospitality sector – through its training, where applicants can gain the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to flourish in a lifelong career.
The leading hospitality charity has had an exceptional year in 2022, continuing to provide inspiring incentives such as FutureChef – a school-based programme that supports life skills development while inspiring young people to pursue an exciting career in the hospitality industry. Its 2022 competition saw 12,000 schoolchildren across the UK compete for the title of 2022 FutureChef Champion, sparking their creativity and passion for the culinary arts.
The hospitality charity also launched its most ambitious programme to date, Springboard to 2022, which helped secure hospitality jobs for 10,000 young people across the UK. The programme supported people into jobs via a range of employability training programmes that include one-to-one mentoring, and soft and hard skills development, while also providing access to work placements for participants to gain hands-on, practical experience.
Springboard’s efforts have helped leading industry businesses by ensuring they have access to a skilled and engaged talent pipeline ready for the industry when vacancies become available. Upon completing the programme, trainees have secured work within renowned businesses, including IHG, Compass, Hilton, Jury’s Inn, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and Nando’s.
This work has been supported by Springboard’s network of almost 2,000 industry Ambassadors, who volunteer their time to carry out mock interviews and industry visits for trainees, carry out careers talks in schools, and judge and mentor FutureChef competitors.
Discussing his experience with Springboard, 21-year-old Kevin McGowan from Glasgow said: “Springboard has supported me by working with me and letting me go at my own pace. I was never judged or dismissed. I would say to anyone struggling with unemployment, don’t give in, or give up. See it through, and you will get there. I would highly recommend a Springboard training to anyone who asks me.”
Commenting on the award win, Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said: “The recognition of having demonstrated outstanding work by His Majesty the King is an honour for Springboard. We are delighted and grateful to have been awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award for our work to support young, unemployed, and underprivileged people across the UK.
“The award comes at an exciting time when we are celebrating having helped over 10,000 unemployed people secure jobs as part of our ‘Springboard to 2022’ initiative and as we are close to reaching our target of having 2,000 volunteer ambassadors on board.”
10,000 young people across UK secure jobs in hospitality thanks to The Springboard Charity
Leading hospitality charity Springboard is celebrating having supported more than 10,000 people into employment through its Springboard to 2022 initiative, which launched in October 2020.
The scheme saw the leading hospitality charity support thousands back into work, from all walks of life including Ukrainian refugees, care leavers, those with mental and physical health conditions, and various other barriers to employment.
Launched to help the industry rebuild from the ongoing impacts of the covid pandemic, ‘Springboard to 2022’ sought to tackle the hospitality, leisure, and tourism industry’s long-term staffing crisis by ensuring an engaged, skilled talent pipeline to fill vacancies.
The charity is now celebrating having surpassed its initial target, helping more than 10,000 people nationwide secure jobs in hospitality. The 10,000 trainees of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life, have fallen in love with hospitality and secured work within renowned businesses, including IHG, Compass, Hilton, Jury’s Inn, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and Nando’s.
Of the 10,000 people securing jobs in hospitality, 56% were male and 46% were female, with 85% aged under 30. 40% went into front-of-house roles, 25% into the kitchen, 15% into reception jobs, 8% into cleaning, and 12% into support roles, including marketing, finance, or maintenance.
Among the trainees, Maryna Tonka, a single mother who fled the war in Ukraine to find shelter for herself and her daughter in Scotland, has secured work as an F&B Assistant at the IBIS South Bridge in Edinburgh. Maryna signed up for the training hoping to learn new skills to help her overcome the language barrier faced in Scotland and enable her to find employment.
Discussing her experience, Maryna said: “As a refugee from Ukraine, I wanted to be useful to the country sheltering us. As part of my training, I learned valuable skills such as how to work in a team and how client relationships differ between Ukraine and Scotland. The training was hugely valuable and has helped me find a job I truly enjoy.”
Harry Smalley, from London, is another trainee to benefit from Springboard’s training. Born with cerebral palsy, Harry has consistently struggled to secure a job in an accessible and accepting workplace. Harry was placed in contact with Springboard through his local Jobcentre and has now secured work at Georgian House Hotel in Pimlico.
Discussing his experience, Harry said, “The hospitality sector is a great place to work. It gives young people the opportunity to build a wide range of skills – from communication, customer service, and cultural awareness to multi-tasking, adaptability, attention to detail, and more! It’s a great sector to be involved in if you have a passion for food and drink, culture, and customer service.
“The Springboard team helped me find a compassionate and understanding prospective employer. Ultimately, this experience has given me the confidence and ability to secure a fantastic job with the wonderful team at Georgian House Hotel.”
Another trainee supported by Springboard to 2022 was Jasmine Fisher, 26, who is now working for Hilton having completed Springboard’s Skill Up Step Up course.
Jasmine, who has already been promoted to a team leader role, said, “Before I took part in the course, I really struggled with my confidence. However, after taking part in the course I have noticed that my confidence has improved a lot. This was thanks to the support and guidance from my trainer.”
The team supports people into jobs via a range of employability training programmes that include one-to-one mentoring, and soft and hard skills development, while also providing access to work placements for participants to gain hands-on, practical experience. Springboards efforts have helped leading industry businesses by ensuring they have access to a skilled and engaged talent pipeline ready for the industry when vacancies become available.
Discussing the success of Springboard to 2022, Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said: “We’re delighted to have reached and exceeded our goal, helping more than 10,000 people find employment this year. Hearing how the programme has changed the lives of participants – many of whom faced challenges such as mental or physical health conditions and the war in Ukraine – makes this achievement even more meaningful.
“Knowing we’ve been able to support the hospitality businesses we work with as they continue to face staffing challenges resulting from Brexit and COVID-19 is also incredibly positive – and we look forward to furthering this next year.”
“We would like to thank all the organisations and individuals that supported this project and made the achievement possible, in particular lead partner the Savoy Educational Trust and official partners Diageo, Barclays, BaxterStorey and Trusthouse Charitable Foundation.”
For more information on Springboard to 2022, visit https://springboard.uk.net/support-us/springboard-to-2022/
The Springboard Awards for Excellence are now open for entries!
The Springboard Awards for Excellence will take place on Thursday 20 April 2023 and are now open for entries for hospitality businesses that have achieved outstanding things in the past 12 months.
Hospitality professionals are encouraged to enter themselves or their business in one of 15 categories, encompassing recruitment, training, development and retention across the industry.
The free to enter Springboard Awards for Excellence, delivered in partnership with Smart Group, recognise and celebrate the UK and Ireland’s hospitality superstars. This includes those who have inspired us over the last year with their resourcefulness, creativity, innovative ideas, those who have supported the growth of their organisation, developed their co-workers and been leaders within their communities.
The deadline for final entries is Friday 13th January 2023 and the shortlist will be announced in February 2023, along with the opportunity to buy tickets to the star studded awards banquet.
The awards celebration takes place aboard Smart Group’s brand new ‘Oceandiva’ on the River Thames. This impressive 86 metre long vessel, is a revolutionary event space which is Co2 neutral.
Looking forward to the event, Springboard’s CEO, Chris Gamm said “The Awards for Excellence is a great opportunity for the industry to come together once a year and commend our top businesses, showcasing their successes and hugely talented workforce. Each year, the award ceremony grows and becomes more exquisite; This year Is no different and we are excited to be holding the Awards for Excellence on this exclusive new venue on the River Thames.”
Enter the Springboard Awards for Excellence here.
Springboard hold Hospitality Takeover Day in Northern Ireland
On the 19th of October, we held a Hospitality takeover day at Galgorm Resort and Spa, Ballymena in Northern Ireland.
The day was attended by over 160 students from across the Mid and East Antrim Council area and was also kindly sponsored by them.
Students were lucky enough to participate in a variety of workshops, including; mocktail making, facilities management, bed making, recruitment and silver service.
Six of our fantastic Springboard Ambassadors, including radio presenter and TV chef, Paula McIntyre, went down to show their support and enthusiasm for the hospitality industry.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Paula and ask her about the work she does to support Springboard, and how it has impacted our mission to futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality.
Listen to the interview here.
Kate Nicholls joins Springboard board of trustees
Springboard is delighted to announce that UK Hospitality CEO, Kate Nicholls, has joined its board of trustees.
Kate has worked closely with Springboard for a number of years, with UK Hospitality and Springboard sharing many common goals around promoting careers in hospitality and attracting talent to it.
Kate said: “I am delighted to be joining Springboard as a trustee. With the hospitality sector facing acute labour and skills shortages, Springboard’s work to provide careers advice and support to young people, supported pathways into employment and to boost training and professional development through their range of programmes has never been more vital.
“Becoming a trustee means I can help to champion, promote and shape that work going forward to give more people the opportunity to experience what a career in hospitality can do for them.”
Springboard chairman Alastair Storey said: “Kate is one of hospitality’s most influential figures and played an enormously important role supporting the industry through Brexit, Covid and now the current staffing and cost challenges.
“The trustees are delighted to welcome her to the board to support Springboard’s mission to futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality, attract new talent and showcase the brilliant opportunities a career in hospitality offer.”
Meet Springboard’s board of trustees here.
Embrace Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism
The Springboard Charity is working with Tourism Northern Ireland to launch an exciting roadshow of events showcasing careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism, exclusively for students in Northern Ireland!
‘Embrace Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism’ are full day events for school year groups 10-14, taking place from January to March 2023.
The series of events aim to inspire and educate the next generation on the exciting career opportunities and pathways that the students can follow in hospitality, leisure and tourism when they leave education.
Places will be limited on the ‘Embrace Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism’ events, which will take place in different cities and towns across Northern Ireland. Teachers and careers advisors of students in years 10-14 are urged to sign up quickly to take advantage of this great opportunity, fully funded by Tourism Northern Ireland and delivered by The Springboard Charity. Springboard offers specialist skills training and careers support for those entering the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector.
Carolyn Boyd, Tourism Northern Ireland’s Industry Development Manager, said “Our vibrant industry is powered by a dedicated workforce who are passionate and dedicated to delivering exceptional service across a range of career opportunities. Our industry is growing from strength to strength so there is no better time to inspire our young people and their parents to choose pathways in hospitality, tourism, and leisure. “
Caitriona Lennox, Head of Northern Ireland at the Springboard Charity, said: “This exciting partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland will hugely benefit the students who participate in the roadshow events, helping them to start making important decisions about their futures and opening their eyes to the broad range of careers available within hospitality, leisure and tourism. Plus it will play a key role in supporting employers in the sector in attracting the star workers of the future.”
To sign your class or school up, please visit https://careerscope.uk.net/nischoolsupport/
Jamie Oliver and Taster launch Pasta Dreams
Jamie Oliver, world-renowned chef, food campaigner and cookbook author, and Taster, the delivery-first restaurant group, shake up the delivery market with an exciting new collaboration, Pasta Dreams.
Pasta Dreams launches in London tomorrow (13 October) from a delivery-first pop-up in Archer Street, Soho. The pop-up will be open for customers to click and collect from, as well as order on Uber Eats and other major delivery platforms. Over the coming weeks, Pasta Dreams will be rolled out to further sites across London and other UK cities, with the ambition to become the UK’s number one delivery pasta brand. Pasta Dreams also launches tomorrow in France, Taster’s original market.
The Pasta Dreams menu has been specifically crafted with delivery in mind, bringing quality ingredients to disrupt the offering on the delivery market. The menu features innovative pasta dishes by one of the world’s best-known chefs, who has ensured the dishes are flavour-packed to give you a dreamy experience.
Pasta Dreams showcases Jamie Oliver twists on some of the UK’s favourite Italian-inspired dishes with a selection of handmade fresh pasta, filled shapes and epic bakes, featuring the likes of mezze maniche, spaghetti alla chitarra, gnocchi, casarecce and ravioli. All suppliers are required to adhere to Jamie Oliver’s high food-sourcing standards on sustainability and welfare, which means ingredients are carefully sourced and deliver maximum flavour. From ‘Carta Di Musica’ Sardinian crackers, cacio x carbonara bowls and margarita gnocchi, through to tiramisu jars, the menu has been designed to present a new, quality offering for delivery.
But that’s not all. Jamie Oliver has always been committed to empowering younger generations through food, whether through industry initiatives such as Fifteen or by
inspiring children to cook with the likes of Cooking Buddies. And Taster’s business allows entrepreneurs to succeed, enabling the next generation of restaurant owners via its innovative franchise model. So, Pasta Dreams isn’t just about delicious food, it also has a clear social focus.
Through Pasta Dreams, Jamie and Taster will give a platform to guest “dreamers” – ambitious foodies who will win the chance to work with the Jamie Oliver development team, creating seasonal specials featured on the Pasta Dreams delivery menu. £1 from the sale of every collaboration dish will be donated to Springboard, a charity that works to inspire young people in hospitality. The “Dreamers” competition will launch in early 2023 on the Pasta Dreams Instagram.
Jamie Oliver, chef, restaurateur and cookbook author, said: “Taking some of my fave Italian dishes and making them ready for delivery has been an epic journey. By partnering with Taster, we’ve created a menu that is vibrant and delicious, plus we’re giving opportunities to passionate cooks and supporting a brilliant cause. I’m really proud to be launching Pasta Dreams. I know you’re gonna love it.”
Anton Soulier, CEO and founder of Taster, said: “It’s no secret that the way we eat has fundamentally changed, with food just a few taps away. It’s been a total pleasure working so closely with Jamie and his team to dream up iconic pasta dishes for delivery. He is the perfect partner for us because we share a belief that everyone should have access to high-quality delicious food, wherever they are. Through Pasta Dreams we want to redefine how people view and experience food designed for delivery – we can’t wait to see how it grows.”
Chris Gamm, CEO, Springboard: “This is an exciting project and Springboard are thrilled to be involved. Jamie Oliver is an inspirational chef, known for nurturing young people into great careers in the kitchen, as well as getting nourishing and delicious food onto the plates of school children and millions of people across the UK. There are many synergies between the work of our organisation and the ethos of Jamie Oliver. We look forward to working with our talented Springboard FutureChef alumni and giving them the opportunity to have their dish featured on the Pasta Dreams menu.”
Core Impact are proud Springboard Ambassadors
Here’s what Core Impact had to say after attending one of our programmes:
“We had the pleasure of supporting the delivery of Springboard’s Employability Programme. We are proud ambassadors of Springboard and know the excellent work the team do, but this programme really showcased all of the best aspects of this work in one go.
The programme itself offers a broad range of experiences of the hospitality industry, opening up many options to the trainees. It’s educational, fun and inspiring. They truly went over and above the expectations to ensure this was a positive experience for the trainees. They offer a very personal and caring approach to support and build the confidence of each individual.
We really enjoyed our participation in this programme and we could see in the room the change over a short period of time of each person in attendance. They felt safe to share their challenges and discuss their progress, they were able to consider their options and make decisions on their future. In the end it was amazing to hear the success stories and the employment opportunities that opened up to them, opportunities they would never have had without this programme.”
Nestlé Professional Sustainability Symposium
Sustainability Symposium is a series of podcasts featuring panel discussions between industry experts that focus on some of the key sustainability issues and topics that confront the out of home food and drink sector today.
Never before has it been as much of a challenge to attract talent into the hospitality industry. Not only operationally back of house and front of house, but also up and down the supply and value chains. It is one of the biggest challenges the sector faces.
The objective of the podcast is to encourage broader debate on this subject and for this episode’s discussion, Springboard’s National Head of Careers & Education, Amanda McDade, joined the conversation with the following industry experts:
- John Holden – Chair & Founder Member of Bridging The Skills Gap; Food & Beverage Lecturer, Cheshire South and West College
- Julia Jones – Head of B2B Marketing, Nestlé Professional
- Sophie Taylor – Chef de Partie at the Gleneagles Townhouse and 2021 Toque d’Or Front of House Student Winner, 2022 Toque d’Or Front of House Judge
- Nick Hughes – Associate Editor, Footprint (Chair)
Link to original article: https://www.foodservicefootprint.com/nestle-professional-sustainability-symposium-episode-2-the-future-of-talent/
Springboard’s first face to face Ambassador Networking Event
On Monday 1st August, we held our first face to face Ambassador Networking event at The Jurys Inn on Board Street, Birmingham.
After the relaunch of our Ambassador Programme in September 2021, we knew that we wanted to hold an event specifically for our Ambassadors, so as the restrictions imposed by Covid began to ease up, we got to work planning the event. We set the date and sent out invitations to our current Ambassadors, as well as encouraging those in the Midlands area who wanted to learn more about Springboard and what it takes to become an Ambassador, to also attend.
Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard kicked off the events agenda, with a brief introduction on Springboard, who we are and why support from our Ambassadors is vital.
Chris said, “Springboard Ambassadors play a vital role in supporting our work, showcasing the industry to our trainees and championing hospitality to the next generation. It was great to meet some of our engaged Ambassadors in the Midlands and hear how they are getting involved in supporting Springboard’s work.”
Lucy Bradley, Ambassador Project Lead at Springboard, took to the stage to give an overview on the Ambassador role, detailing how to get involved and sharing the new Ambassador Portal.
Guest speakers at the event included Kris Hall, Founder and Director from The Burnt Chef Project, and Conrad Brunton from Tonic Talent. Kris gave an insightful talk on the history of The Burnt Chef Project, and about their plans towards tackling mental health in the Hospitality industry – he even brought Ellie the Elephant along for the day, to quite literally, squash the elephant in the room! Conrad said, “It was an absolute pleasure to attend and talk, meet new faces, as well as discuss recruitment and staff retainment issues within the industry.”
The event was a great success with over 30 Ambassadors attending, who left feeling engaged and enthusiastic about offering further support to Springboard.
We hope to hold future face to face events across various regions in the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled for your invite!
Not already an Ambassador? Become one today!
Have a question? Contact Lucy Bradley, Ambassador Project Lead on: lucyb@springboarduk.org.uk