The Wolseley Hospitality Group is delighted to be working with industry charity Springboard on its mission to futureproof the hospitality talent pipeline.

As a sponsor of Springboard FutureChef, the group is helping promote hospitality careers and cooking to more than 13,000 young people this year.

Group Executive Chef, David Stevens. helped judge the Springboard FutureChef London regional final held at Lewisham College this month, in which young budding chef Ellen was crowned regional winner and will go on to compete in the national final at Westminster Kingsway College in March.

“The whole judging panel were impressed by all the competing students, their level of skill and time management was to be applauded.  The Springboard FutureChef programme is teaching a life skill and opening the eyes of young school students to what an incredible and diverse industry we work in.  A special thanks should go out to all the mentors who encourage and support the students through the competition.”

David Stevens, Group Executive Chef

The Wolseley Hospitality Group have also helped support Springboard’s employability training programmes. Earlier this month, a group of Springboard trainees visited the group’s Brasserie Zédel site in London, where they met the team, had a tour of the restaurant, and also completed a skills based training module.

In the past 12 months, seven Springboard trainees secured jobs at the Wolseley Hospitality Group, while the team also supported with mock interviews, industry visits and hosting Springboard training programmes on site.

“Giving young, unemployed people a chance to learn the skills and gain the confidence to equip them for a career in hospitality is something we wholeheartedly support. As a company we invest in our people to encourage and nurture growth and progression, so Springboard could be providing candidates that hopefully become some of our future managers.”

Daniel Jeffries, Head of Recruitment

Springboard’s Kristina worked closely with the Wolseley Hospitality Group while running a number of training programmes and said: “I enjoyed working with Rory and Dan because they really understand our organisation and are always willing to support us with whatever they can.”