Better Business / Member news
Kate’s Kitchen announces partnership with Square Food in new initiative
Kate’s Kitchen has joined forces with Square Food Foundation in its Corporate Membership Club scheme. The team at Kate’s Kitchen has been working closely with Square Food and were delighted get on board as a ‘Soup’ member of the new initiative.
With visits to Square Food Foundation, the team at Kate’s Kitchen was greatly impressed. They said: “We went to visit them and we love all the work they are doing for the food industry, helping kids from less advantaged backgrounds, or additional needs, and wanted to support them with their work.”
The Corporate Membership Club marks a new way for Square Food Foundation to engage meaningfully with businesses in Bristol and the Southwest by providing companies with employee benefits through volunteering, team building days, mentoring opportunities and donations towards the foundation’s all important Recipe Kits and Classes.
Each recipe kit contains fresh ingredients to cook a healthy meal from scratch, optimised for energy saving and with enough food for a family of four. Every week the foundation prepares around 200 recipe kits which are delivered to local schools and food clubs.
Sarah Walsh, an alumna of “How To Be A Chef” programme, funded by Bristol 247 joined the team Kate’s Kitchen back in July – photo: Evoke
Kate’s Kitchen has made the first big stride in the partnership with the recruitment of a work experience chef, Sarah Walsh. Sarah joined the team at Kate’s Kitchen from Square Food’s How To Be A Chef programme, funded by Bristol 247.
Sarah who joined the team back in July has been hailed as “an asset”. The team said: “Sarah has been such an asset to the team. She is such a great chef, and we love training future chefs for the industry.”
On Kate’s Kitchen’s new partnership, Square Food Foundation expressed their delight. They said: “We are thrilled to announce that Kate’s Kitchen has joined us as a founding member of our Corporate Membership Club.
“Square Food deeply appreciates the support of partners like Kate’s Kitchen. Beyond the membership, we eagerly anticipate sharing knowledge to enhance food sustainability in the South West and creating collaborative opportunities for supporting the employability pathways for young trainee chefs on our How To Be A Chef programme.”
How To Be A Chef is Square Food’s free vocational programme that runs for 12 weeks with two days a week training. It is free to anyone aged 16-25 not in full time work, education or training.
Kate’s Kitchen has joined forces with Square Food Foundation in its Corporate Membership Club scheme – photo: Evoke
During the course students learn to hold their own in a kitchen environment, learn a range of different cooking techniques and recipes, visit food producers, growers, restaurants, and work with mentors to create a CV and improve their interview skills.
The students gain a Level 2 BTEC qualification and Level 2 Food & Hygiene certificate as well as the transferable skills that employers might look for such as team work, taking the initiative, working without supervision and presentation skills.
About the training programme the founder Kate Ploughman said: “Throughout the course we engage the students in thinking about their next opportunity and hold a careers afternoon to meet with partners and mentors who may be able to offer work placements.
“We stay in touch with the students after the course has ended to help guide them and link them up with work or volunteering opportunities. It offers a great introduction to the hospitality industry and hopefully inspires and encourages students to take the next step.”
Main photo: Square Food Foundation
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