We held our first Ambassador Networking Event in London!
On Thursday 27th April, we held our first Ambassador Networking Event in London, hosted by Vacherin and supported by Events @ No 6.
A room full of like-minded people wanting to support the industry came together to learn more about the work we do at Springboard and the Ambassador Programme, finding out how to better engage with young people, particularly about careers in the rewarding but “invisible” world of catering. Also to discover how Hospitality Action can support workplace wellbeing and to see the Ambassador Programme come alive during an interview with some of our trainees.
The afternoon began with an overview of Springboard by our CEO, Chris Gamm, followed by a summary from Ambassador Project Lead, Patricia Teixeira, of the benefits and opportunities the Ambassador programme provides, with a particular focus on the Choose Hospitality Pledge.
Phil Roker, Managing Director at Vacherin provided an insight into the organisation, as well as the support they and their parent company, CH&CO, give Springboard. In his speech, he explored the benefits of contract catering, as an exciting, versatile and rewarding career choice for young people. In his view, it is urgent to unveil the myriad of hospitality careers and career paths to the hospitality professionals of the future, in particular when it comes to the, often secret, world of contract catering.
Camilla Woods, Services Director at Hospitality Actions, shared essential information about the exceptional mental health support that Hospitality Action offer the industry. This includes providing resources for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing through a dedicated 24/7 helpline and a comprehensive support package.
Tony Mullen, Senior Delivery Manager at Springboard, introduced the stars of the evening: Toby Markham and Ben Caffrey. Toby and Ben are Springboard graduates. They used the opportunity to share their journey so far in the hospitality industry and how Springboard and our Ambassadors have supported them with mock interviews and work placements.
The afternoon ended with some networking over drinks, nibbles & crisps, thanks to the generosity of Vacherin, Events @No 6, and REAL Crisps.
Springboard gets involved with Eurovision!
As part of their course in Liverpool, our trainees had a session on Events Management.
The trainees were told at the beginning of the activity, that they would be working together as one team and would form an events company who were bidding to host the Euroclub Launch Party in Liverpool the week before the contest. They were given a brief which included 12 different job roles and between them they had to decide who would take on which role based on their talents and expertise.
One of the trainees, Jordan Baines, put himself forward to the be the Bar Manager and one his tasks included coming up with a Eurovision themed cocktail with a catchy name.
Jordan said “I wanted to go for the Bar Manager role because I wanted to get an insight into bar management including looking at profit margins and how much it would cost to make a cocktail.
I had to come up with a Eurovision themed cocktail, so I started off by researching popular drinks from Ukraine. I knew that I wanted to integrate vodka as part of the cocktail, and I also wanted the drink to represent the colours of the Ukrainian flag – blue and yellow. I did an initial design, costed it up and presented it back as part of our Events Management activity. Everyone was really happy with what I had come up with.
I named the cocktail the ‘UK-rainian’ to reflect the countries of UK and Ukraine. This was to reflect the UK hosting on behalf of Ukraine (last year’s winner).
I spoke to my trainers about attempting to make it during our mixology class the following week. They agreed, and in our mixology class we experimented with a few different versions to decide what would work best.
The version we created in our mixology class consisted of vodka, blue curacao, pineapple juice and aquafaba. This was served in a blue sherbet rimmed coup glass and garnished with two slices of lemon peel.
The other trainees got to try the cocktail and they really enjoyed it! They said they liked the combination of sweet and sour. They also liked its appearance as it looked party-friendly and perfect for Eurovision.
I’m looking forward to watching Eurovision in Liverpool and making this cocktail for my friends.”
At the course graduation, two of Springboard’s trainers came along and made the UK-rainian for the graduates and their guests. This was a slightly different version to the one made in the mixology class.
This version had a base of vodka and blue curacao and rather than having an aquafaba foam, cream was used to give the cocktail a richer taste. It was again presented in a blue sherbet rimmed coup glass and this time garnished with a lemon slice and dried heather.
The graduates and their guests loved the cocktail and it was a great way to celebrate everyone’s success!
The Liverpool trainees with the ‘UK-rainian’ cocktail…
Hospitality superstars celebrated during the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2023
On the 20th of April 2023, the hospitality industry came together for an unforgettable night of celebration and recognition at the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2023, held at the East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf and hosted by the broadcaster and journalist Gordon Smart.
Held and organised by the hospitality charity Springboard, the awards celebrated the achievements of the hospitality industry’s most talented individuals and companies, highlighting the industry’s most inspiring and resourceful leaders, who have shown innovation and creativity in the face of unprecedented challenges.
The 48 shortlisted hospitality businesses and individuals competed for the prestigious awards across 16 categories, with winners selected by a panel of industry experts including Ronan Harte, CEO of BaxterStorey, Diago Masciaga, and more.
One of the most heart-warming moments of the night was the announcement of Toby Markham from London as the winner of the Fiona Colley Trainee of the Year Award. Toby has cerebral palsy and had struggled to find employment as a result. Upon completing Springboard’s Galvin’s Chance programme, Toby landed his first-ever job within the sector.
Discussing his win, Toby said: “Having cerebral palsy has made things more challenging for me, but with the support of the charity, I have been able to develop my employment skills and gain the confidence I need to succeed. I am delighted to have won this award, which recognizes all the hard work and effort I have put in, and it just goes to show that with the right support, anything is possible.”
Speaking about the awards, Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said, “The Springboard Awards for Excellence 2023 provide a fantastic opportunity for the industry to come together and showcase the immense talent and successes of its top businesses. The Awards recognise the hard work and dedication of hospitality superstars and demonstrate the sector’s resilience, creativity, and innovation.
“We are proud to celebrate the individuals and companies that have made an outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry – particularly Toby, whose incredible story and achievement serves as a reminder of the transformative impact that the hospitality industry can have on people’s lives.”
As a leading charity supporting the growth of the hospitality industry, Springboard is committed to celebrating and promoting the achievements of the sectors stars – and the annual Awards for Excellence provide a platform to do just that. The charity helps disadvantaged and unemployed people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of society to fall in love with hospitality, leisure, and tourism and gain the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to flourish in a lifelong career within these industries.
Springboard has recently celebrated completing its Springboard to 2022 mission, supporting more than 10,000 people, including Ukrainian refugees, care leavers, and those with mental and physical health conditions, into jobs within the hospitality sector.
Double win for Springboard at the Movement to Work Awards
Springboard picked up two awards at the 2023 Movement to Work Youth Employability Awards in London this week.
Manchester-based programme delivery manager Tom Stephenson was crowned Mentor of the Year for his work supporting more than 220 beneficiaries through employability training courses in the past 12 months. The judges highlighted one particular course in which Tom helped 100% of trainees secure jobs.
Meanwhile Springboard won Partner of the Year for our innovative approach to delivering employability training and tackling youth unemployment with Movement to Work member Diageo.
Springboard has delivered Diageo’s Learning for Life programme in the UK since 2014, supporting more than 5,500 people through training courses and giving them the skills and knowledge to secure work in the hospitality industry.
Springboard CEO Chris Gamm said: “I’m delighted for Tom and all the Springboard team. They work so hard changing the lives of young people, and to get the recognition of these prestigious awards is richly deserved. A huge thanks to Diageo for your partnership in delivering Learning for Life and giving young people the skills and opportunities to launch their hospitality careers.”
Fit for Hospitality
‘Fit for Hospitality’ is a new hospitality initiative, aiming to provide practical support for those in the industry on how to work on their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as free to enter challenges and events across the UK.
Inspired by his own personal industry experiences, founder Simon Maguire is on a mission to support fitness and wellbeing within hospitality; with exercise and challenges providing not only a goal to work towards, but a sense of achievement.
To kick start the initiative, Fit for Hospitality will be staging its first UK challenge this year, with a 5k or 10k fundraising run on Thursday 21st September. The race will take place along Bournemouth beach promenade and is open to anyone who works in hospitality. There are 600 free places on a first-come basis, with participants encouraged to sign-up and raise funds towards three great causes.
Recognising the positive link between health and performance, as well as improved mental health, Simon Maguire says: “This initiative is about supporting the wellbeing of our teams across the industry, encouraging and supporting people to get the best out of themselves.
With a squeeze on people and companies’ budgets, Fit for Hospitality couldn’t come at a better time. I’m incredibly excited about the prospect of 600 people crossing the line in September and believe this is only the start of the Fit for Hospitality journey”.
Raising funds for three of the industries most recognised and important charities, all funds will go towards Room to Reward, Hospitality Action, and Springboard. Maguire adds: “Each of these charities are crucial in supporting not only those working within hospitality, but also the unsung heroes within our communities.”
Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action says: “At Hospitality Action, we strongly believe that a healthy and happy workforce is a key ingredient in a successful hospitality business, and we’re excited to be involved in the Fit for Hospitality Challenge. Not only will the event promote workplace wellbeing, but the money raised will help hospitality families in crisis during these difficult times.”
Chris Gamm, CEO of The Springboard Charity says: “The Fit for Hospitality challenge is an exciting and fun way to keep your people fit and healthy and take part in a team challenge. Springboard is delighted to be one of the chosen charities and all money raised will go towards helping young, unemployed and underprivileged people into great jobs in hospitality.”
Adam Terpening, Room to Reward says: “Fit for Hospitality is a fantastic way of looking after physical and mental health and developing a strong team spirit, whilst exploring the stunning Bournemouth coastline. Every penny raised enables us to help charities, community groups and the inspirational volunteers who do so much for them.”
Providing the fundamental sponsorship for the event to take place, Fit for Hospitality is delighted to announce Umbrella Training Limited, Harri, Thissaway and WPA WPA Health Insurance as partners for its first event – which is being powered by West Peak.
Maguire says: “We are hugely indebted to our sponsors, as we would have not been able to run this event without their generosity. I’d also like to thank Steve Lewis (Lainston House), Lindsay Southward (Village Hotels) an Simon Farrow (TAO Hospitality) who have kindly offered their support in the planning of this event.”
For details on how to enter, please visit: https://challenging.events/e/fit-for-hospitality-9255
Springboard welcome new business partner the PM Trust
The PM Trust has formed a partnership with Springboard to offer training to former trainees, that have now secured work in the hospitality industry.
The PM Trust is a charity that provides bursaries and grants to young people who are starting a career in hospitality. The charity was founded in 1949 and started as a meeting place based in the crypt of St Martin in the Fields. In later years the charity was able to provide accommodation to hospitality workers in Earls Court which was known as The PM Club. The Club helped launch the careers of many young people at the time, including Jason Atherton, Marcus Wareing and Gary Rhodes. Unfortunately, The PM Club closed in 2002, however the aims and objectives live on in The PM Trust.
Ruston Toms, Chairman of the PM Trust, said “We are a relatively small charity however the new partnership with Springboard will allow us to extend our sphere of support within the hospitality industry. The bursaries and grants are provided to help young people further their training and development and importantly improve their prospects in the industry. The support we can provide has never been more important given the difficulties the industry has experienced of late.
We look forward to working with Chris and his magnificent team at Springboard to promote hospitality as career of choice for young people.”
Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, added “We are delighted to be partnering with the PM Trust to support a group of Springboard trainees with their development within the hospitality industry. Our employability programmes give young people the skills to launch their careers, and the PM Trust bursaries will help them access further training opportunities and gain new skills to take that allow them to develop their career even further.”
The Ivy Collection add associated brands to support Springboard
The Ivy Collection has recently agreed to add their associated brands to the Springboard Charity Showcase Employer Programme for 2023. This brings on board Bill’s Restaurants, Birley Clubs, Caprice Holdings . These additional restaurants and clubs will offer Springboard trainees a wider scope of location and work placements as part of their employability courses, which incorporate mock interviews and site industry visits.
Johanna Wimmer, People Engagement Manager for all four brands, said “It has been a pleasure partnering with Springboard, to be able to make a difference in people’s lives and to give them a taste of this exciting industry we work in. Adding our additional brands enables us to showcase the variety of roles and experiences hospitality has to offer – there is something for everyone.”
Chris Gamm, CEO at Springboard, said: “It is a delight to have the full suite of brands associated with the Ivy Collection on board as Springboard Showcase Employers. It is very aspirational for our trainees to visit and experience some of the UK’s best hospitality businesses.”
Most recently, Granary Square Brasserie, London hosted a site visit for eight candidates from the Springboard Skill Up, Step Up course. The visiting trainees were delighted with the warm and generous welcome from Matt Crook and the team and the next step is to discuss work placements.
Matt Crook, Back of House (BOH) Training and Development Manager at The Ivy Collection, added “Working together with Springboard and their candidates is important to me as I can pass on my passion and share my 25year hospitality experience with them. Springboard gives people fantastic opportunities and can make a huge difference to their lives, it gives them a taster of what hospitality has to offer, and hopefully they will be driving the industry for a further 25 years.”
IHIC supports two Ukrainian refugees to secure hospitality jobs
The International Hotel Investment Council (IHIC) has helped two women who fled the war in Ukraine to find jobs working for Starbucks after taking part in a Springboard training course.
A donation from IHIC funded the places of Anzhelina Kuchmenko and Natalia Avramenko on the four-week destination hospitality course in Edinburgh, which included soft skills development, hospitality training, CV and interview skills, industry visits and a week’s work experience.
Both women are among the Ukrainians living on a cruise ship docked in Leith and said the course helped them build their confidence, make friends in the area and see hospitality as a great career choice.
“The most surprising thing I’ve learned is that all the experience I have, all the skills I gained just by living my life can be exploited and turned into something personal and meaningful for the customers,” said Anzhelina.
“Just after learning this I understood that hospitality is a great match for me. I became a part of the Starbucks team who are the embodiment of what friendly and meaningful customer service is. I was supposed to be a barista, but within a few days of working, my manager offered me a higher position as a shift supervisor.
“This course has also helped me to overcome my language barrier and find new friends. In three weeks, our group became a great team, and I actually miss the atmosphere we had when we were doing the course. Some of my new friends are now my colleagues at Starbucks, while others now work at hotels and bars.
“Thank you to Springboard and IHIC for this great opportunity. You’ve built my new life here in Edinburgh! I can’t describe how grateful I am.
Natalia added: “I am really happy about having attended the course because I learned a lot about customer service, food safety, the legal responsibilities around the sale of alcohol, making drinks, job search and well-being. There were a lot of useful workshops and fantastic presentations.”
Commenting on the Springboard programme, IHIC director, Tim Helliwell, emphasised the hope that IHIC’s assistance will have a lasting impact on both their lives and careers.
“The members of IHIC are delighted to have been able to support this initiative and to help provide meaningful employment opportunities within the hospitality sector. We wish Natalia and Anzhelina every success in the future,“ he said.
Springboard FutureChef 2023 winner is announced!
© Jane Henderson Photography
The winner of Springboard FutureChef – a national competition to find the country’s next culinary superstar – has been revealed as Kristen Nugent, 15, from Killeeshil, in County Tyrone, following a tense final at Westminster Kingsway College in London.
Taking place at Westminster Kingsway College in London yesterday (13 March), the final saw 12 up-and-coming young chefs from across the UK battle it out to be crowned champion in the annual competition hosted by hospitality charity, Springboard.
During the final stage of the competition, the competitors had 2 hours and 45 minutes to prepare a main course and dessert for a panel of industry-leading judges, including Adam Handling, Nieves Barragan Mohacho and 2023 National Chef of the Year Ben Murphy.
Since winning her regional heat in Northern Ireland, Kristen has worked with award winning Dungannon-based mentor chef James Devine, to hone her skills and create dishes that wowed the judges in every round, including smoked and poached rainbow trout, citrus cured rillette, hens’ egg, chive mash, soused vegetables and herb butter sauce along with her rhubarb, vanilla panna cotta, granola crunch crumble and maple dessert.
Taking the crown, Kristen will now receive ongoing support, development, and apprenticeship opportunities from Springboard, including the chance to have her recipes published.
Discussing her win, Kristen said, “It was absolutely amazing and so unexpected. The first hour went slightly sideways but I stepped back, took deep breathes and after a 30 second break I got myself back together and it went really well after that!
“It has been a whirlwind experience competing in the FutureChef competition – and it is amazing to see the hard work finally pay off. The support and guidance I have received from my mentor James, has been instrumental in my success. I am more passionate than ever about pursuing a career in hospitality and I cannot wait to see what the future holds and the opportunities this will unlock.”
FutureChef Judge, Chef and TikTok star, Poppy O’Toole, said: “I’m so excited to be judging the national finals of FutureChef. It was winning my school’s FutureChef competition back in 2009 which made me realise I was good at cooking. From the days of being a culinary student, to working in Michelin starred restaurants to now cooking to 4 million followers online with two cookbooks and being a TV judge, I hope I can inspire the next generation how amazing it can be to work in food!”
Discussing the importance of the competition, Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said: “Our FutureChef competition is always a big moment in our calendar and we always love witnessing the talented young individuals entering the industry and exploring their passion and love for the sector and all it has to offer.
“The sector is still very much recovering from the impact of the past 3-years and the ongoing economic strain is only placing more pressure on an already struggling industry. The FutureChef competition plays a vital part in introducing new talent to the world of hospitality. Many well-known industry heavyweights have supported FutureChef, from Monica Galetti to Michel Roux Jr, Angela Hartnett, and Clare Smyth. It is simply a great steppingstone into the industry.”
Aiming to find the UK and Ireland’s next generation of culinary talent, Springboard FutureChef is a school-based programme that supports the development of life skills while inspiring young people to pursue an exciting career within the world of hospitality. The schools-based competition, which is now in its 24th year and has seen more than 214,000 young people aged 12-16 take part, supports the development of culinary and life skills while inspiring young people to pursue an exciting career in hospitality.
The competition called on budding chefs to compete and develop their culinary skills, with different rounds introducing participants to important themes around sustainability, plant-based, and zero-waste cooking.
Outside of FutureChef, Springboard has recently celebrated hitting its Springboard to 2022 target, helping 10,000 young people into jobs in hospitality last year.
We held a Hospitality Takeover Day in London!
This month we held a Hospitality Takeover Day at the London Hilton Metropole. The day was a huge success, with 132 students from 6 different schools attending, who were all enabled to opportunity to learn about the hospitality industry, promoting it as a viable career choice.
The day started with a welcome talk from the Hilton’s General Manager, Bill Fisher and Summer School participant Lucy Gilbert spoke about her journey with and after Springboard. Since taking part in our Summer School programme last year, Lucy has gone on to start an apprenticeship at Sodexo Live! Academy with iconic chef, Raymond Blanc.
After setting them up for the day, the students rotated around 6 different workshops. A hotel tour, towel origami, cupcake decorating, mocktail creation, hospitality quiz and a team building activity lead by Springboard.
Take a look at our photos from the day…
Each workshop host identified a ‘rising star’ student from their workshop sessions, and they received a prize. At the end of the day one overall winner was identified, and she received an Amazon voucher of £100!
91% of students said that as a result of the event they now had a better understanding of the wide range of worthwhile career opportunities in the hospitality sector. With 63% saying they would now be more interested in considering a career in hospitality. One student told us “The day was really fun and inspirational” and another shared, “It was an amazing and engaging day.”
A huge thank you to Hilton for hosting the event and to Caterer.com and HIT Training, for coming down to support on the day.