King Charles Meets Springboard Learning for Life Trainees

King Charles was at the opening of Diageo’s stunning Johnnie Walker Princes Street venue in Edinburgh. We introduced him to a few of our trainees who told him how we are supporting young and disadvantaged people into work in hospitality. They also demonstrated some of their skills in the new Learning for Life training centre.

Springboard Trainees Meet Rishi Sunak

Two Springboard trainees played host to former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in a meeting where they discussed their own experiences trying to find a job in the hospitality sector.

Alongside this, they also discussed Springboard’s efforts to help the sector’s recovery amidst the ongoing pandemic and recruitment crisis.

Pedram Keshavarz, aged 24, and Precious Brann-Nicol, aged 18, both struggled to find jobs in the capital. But, after applying and taking part in the Diageo learning for Life Hospitality Sprint programme, delivered by Springboard in November 2021, they have now secured jobs in the hospitality industry.

The pair met with Sunak and Springboard’s CEO, Chris Gamm, at the launch of Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard, which opened in Autumn 2023 to become the southern hub of the Learning for Life programme.

Discussing his experience on the Diageo Learning for Life Hospitality Sprint course, Keshavarz said, “I found out about Springboard through my local job centre and was encouraged to register for the course after struggling for months to find suitable work.

‘The course equipped me with so many valuable skills, including how to serve customers, and I particularly enjoyed learning about different types of drinks and cocktails.

‘With the support of Springboard, I now have a job in a great bar in Camden, which I thoroughly enjoy. Having the opportunity to meet the chancellor and to tell him about my experience with Springboard was fantastic.”

Skill Up, Step Up

Skill Up, Step Up – an initiative by the Evening Standard and the Independent, in partnership with Barclays LifeSkills – launched today to get disadvantaged, unemployed young Londoners work ready and into sustainable jobs and apprenticeships.

During a time of record job vacancies nationwide, youth unemployment in London has soared by 55% since the start of the pandemic, with 21% of Londoners aged 16-24 seeking work still jobless. Skill Up, Step Up will support the unemployed youth community in London, teaching the skills they need to kickstart their career.

Hospitality charity Springboard is one of up to five partnering with the campaign to provide disadvantaged jobless young Londoners with employability skills, practical training and wrap-around care to make them ‘work ready’ and supporting them to secure a role within hospitality, leisure and tourism.

Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said: “Employers are working hard to increase pay, improve employee work-life balance, diversify their workforce and put in place development plans that make them attractive to future talent, as well as to motivate and retain their existing teams. One of the biggest challenges they face, however, is convincing not just potential future employees, but also influencers like parents, teachers and careers advisors what a fulfilling and dynamic career hospitality presents, with the opportunities to quickly develop, gain transferable skills and earn a great salary in a short space of time.

“Skill Up, Step Up is a game changer for both young people who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and the hospitality industry that are desperate to attract them to their businesses.”

Springboard will play an integral role in Skill Up, Step Up, offering 3–6-week employability training programmes to hundreds of young people. This will include specialised one-to-one mentoring, soft skill and employability development, practical industry and hard skills training, as well as work experience.

The training will cover a wide range of transferable and industry specific skills across hotels, restaurants, bars, leisure, and tourism. Modules will be aimed at supporting participants with confidence, work attitude, CVs, interview skills and time management, as well as health and safety and customer service.

Springboard is asking hospitality businesses of all sizes to step up to the plate with a pledge to employ one or more trainees in a job or apprenticeship. Businesses will be provided with a shortlist of suitable candidates to interview.

The campaign will be run across both the Evening Standard and The Independent titles and will be led by the same team that ran their award-winning 2020 Food For London Now and Help the Hungry campaigns, as well as the Dispossessed campaign which has been running since 2010.

David Cohen, campaigns editor for both the Evening Standard and The Independent, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Springboard who have an outstanding record of helping disadvantaged young people become work ready and securing them sustainable jobs in the hospitality industry. Young people need the likes of Springboard more than ever and London needs hospitality to be fully staffed so this is a win-win situation. We are hoping it will be a game-changer for young people and a boon for the capital’s economy.”

Springboard to 2022

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 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.

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.”

Movement to Work Awards

Springboard picked up two awards at the 2023 Movement to Work Youth Employability Awards!

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.”

Springboard FutureChef Turns 25!

Our flagship education programme, Springboard FutureChef, turned 25 in 2024.

Springboard Trek to Cambodia

A group of brave trekkers took on the challenge of a 10 day trek through Cambodia in March 2024, raising vital funds for Springboard

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Award for Volunteering

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 was 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, was awarded a handwritten certificate with The King’s signature presented at a Royal Garden Party event 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.

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.”

Springboard are proud Disability Confident leaders