Since social distancing measures were put in place and the lockdown happened across the UK, Springboard have quickly adapted how we can help people and continue our vital work. Within one month, our team converted our face-to-face training programmes into online learning programmes; Digital Hospitality Academy, Diageo Learning for Life Digital Hospitality Academy and FutureChef Digital Academy.

We have been able to continue supporting the 1,212 beneficiaries who were on a cancelled employability course or receiving on-going support, while also supporting an additional 200 new beneficiaries since June 8th through our Digital Hospitality Academy and Diageo Learning for Life Digital Hospitality Academy.

FutureChef also acted swiftly to support teachers and students alike and created the FutureChef Digital Academy where we have received requests for 17,153 students to be added to the programme from 257 schools nationwide.

Employability

On March 16th, we paused our face-to-face delivery and launched first phase of digital services on 6th April.

What we have been offering, free of charge to the beneficiary:

• 1 or 3 week courses, depending on individual needs
• A dedicated member of our specialist employability team for 1-2-1 careers advice, support, and mentoring
• A connected team environment: live group training and webinars
• Upskilling and training and development with over 40 online modules, accessible to complete 24/7
• Supported CV building, job searches, interview practice and introductions to employers

Education

Working with a teacher focus group, the FutureChef Digital Academy was created within a month to support teachers. Students watch industry-led informational and instructional videos, complete activities and answer questions. The progress of each student in a class can be tracked by the teacher, allowing them to see a virtual mark book.

Moving forward, Springboard is building on the success of this to create two online competitions, replacing the face-to-face competition. The first, the FutureChef development programme, will allow younger students (11 to 14 years old) to complete activities based curriculum skills, such as food hygiene and knife skills, and upload evidence online. The second, the FutureChef Competition, will focus on practical skills needed in cookery examinations (for example time management and menu development), whilst linking them closely with industry and promoting roles within the industry.

Business Support

We have been providing business support throughout this period, engaging furloughed workers in voluntary activity and signposting to resilience and mental health support for entire workforces, as well as providing digital academy support to team members that have lost their jobs.

We can offer our business partners support to upskill, motivate and retain their current staff through our network of experienced mentors and the Hospitality Elevator programme.

We are able to help our business partners navigate through the redundancy process, whereby reducing staff is the only option at this time, connecting people to our online academies, provide them with tailored 1-2-1 support and linking them other jobs in hospitality, leisure and tourism as well as allied sectors, protecting your employer brand.

Springboard continue to advocate for the Hospitality industry and we are investing in the talent pipeline, so that in as the industry strengthens and grows, there will be a wealth of skilled, passionate and enthusiastic individuals ready for work.

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