Bon Appetit! Rossendales Work With Accrington and Rossendale College to Develop New Catering Facilities.
On Friday 3rd February 2012, MP Jake Berry opened the new catering facilities at enforcement & debt collection firm Rossendales, which will be managed and staffed with students and personnel from Accrington & Rossendale College.
Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen officially opens
Rossendales' new canteen in the presence of from left,
Chris Bloodworth Rossendales' Learning and Development Director,
Helen Lockwood, Chief Executive of Rossendale Borough Council,
Mike Damms, Chief Executive of the
East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce,
Jake Berry MP for Rossendale and Darwen,
Julie Green-Jones, Rossendales Chairman,
Mike Shang, Rossendales Managing Director
The College's hospitality and catering students will get yet another taste of real world work-experience as they take the helm at Rossendales' catering facilities, providing healthy, nutritious meals for their 195 staff.
Jake Berry MP performed the Ribbon Cutting duties and was joined by Helen Lockwood CEO of Rossendale Council, and Mike Damms Chief Executive of the East Lancs Chamber of Commerce.
The enterprising project will see two apprentices from the College working at Rossendales' catering facility full-time, in addition to catering students who will work at the business throughout their course of study. The College has consulted with Rossendales to ensure the menu on offer is right for their diverse staffing body, with a large emphasis being put on fresh, healthy options.
Liz Duncan, Head of Hospitality and Catering at Accrington & Rossendale College explained, "This is an innovative project that is a win win situation for all involved. Rossendales believe strongly in supporting the local community and this project gives our students a great opportunity to run their own large-scale catering facility. In addition, our learners will gain invaluable commercial work-experience. From the moment our students join us, we're preparing them to enter the workforce and the time they spend working at Rossendales will put them head and shoulders above other students who may leave their college with little experience. They will have to work at the pace of real chefs and deal with real customers and that can only strengthen their claims for employment when they graduate and begin looking for a job.
"Some of the food will be prepared at our facility at the Globe Centre, while some will be prepared on site at Rossendales. This is a real step forward for linking education and business which is imperative for learners to leave us with the skills they need to get a job. We hope that this will show other businesses in the area that they can innovate to support their future workforce."
Julie Green-Jones, Chairman of Rossendales said, "I think this is an opportunity to create a partnership which benefits everyone. We've always had a commitment to good, high quality training and the apprentices and students from the College will get the practical experience they need for their CVs.
In support of work experience and providing innovative training we also engaged a Part 1 Graduate in BA (Hons) Architect Sam Gilding from Leeds Metropolitan University, to plan and design a scheme as well as oversee and project manage the whole renovation scheme. Sam has successfully designed a warm, funky and enjoyable space that is a pleasure to work in and to dine in. The practical experience and support provided to Sam will hopefully assist him and strengthen his ability to gain employment once he graduates.
This is a solid way for Rossendales to make a contribution to the workforce of the future, which will be vital for all businesses."
