Savoy Educational Trust pumps funds into hospitality training

Over the past few months, the non-profit group, which promotes training in the hospitality sector, has backed training programmes, facilities and buildings in Croydon, Leeds City and Darlington College, and has also backed the Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS).

Margaret Georgiou, administrator and secretary to the trustees, said: “At a time of huge cuts to university budgets, The Savoy Educational Trust grants and bursaries are even more crucial to development and training. We are delighted to contribute towards these projects since they will benefit a large and diverse group of young people, now and in the future.”

Croydon College

Croydon College, which received around £10,000 from the trust at the end of last year, is using the funds to set up a Young Chefs Academy. This will target children aged 14-16, and give them the opportunity to learn basic hospitality skills over a ten-week course.

Darlington College

Another £25,000 was awarded to Darlington College to help redesign the existing restaurant training facility, which is due to officially open next month. The redesign is expected to help the college to improve the teaching and learning environment for food service training and help deliver Food Service VRQ and Level 3 Food Service qualifications.

Leeds City College

The Savoy Educational Trust also awarded £24,000 to Leeds City College Thomas Danby Campus to refurbish the bistro area in the college and provide a facility that reflects a real working environment for training both back and front of house. The Leeds City College Thomas Danby refurbishment will begin in June and is due to be completed in September 2011.

AFWS

In a parallel move, the trust also recently backed AFWS with £15,000 for the promotion for the Michel Roux’s Service TV series, which helped raise the profile of front-of-house as a career.