Rinova has for several years, participated in European partnerships focusing on the hospitality and tourism industry and has long since realized the many opportunities that exist in the sector. Through our ESF/SFA fundedCareers Cluster project, Pan Out, we have finally been given a vehicle to promote this sector within the UK.
On Wed 26th April, Rinova, along with partners Wandsworth Life Long Learning and Learn Train Recruit, had the pleasure of attending the prestigious Mayor’s Charity Ball, at the London Borough of Wandsworth Civic Suite. This year, the event celebrated the achievements of the Wandsworth Young Chef of the Year Awards. The competition which is in its 4th year, was given a welcome boost in 2016/17 when it became part of the successful Rinova-led Pan Out project.
Through its inclusion as one of the Employer Pilots, the Wandsworth Young Chef competition was able to reach more young people in more schools and moving forward Santino Fragola (Head of Lifelong Learning at LB of Wandsworth) and business leader Nick Vardis (Compass Group) are confident that the competition will grow and flourish as a result of this increased resource and capacity. With the next Young Chef Competition due to start in the autumn on 2017, we will be able to offer this exciting opportunity to more young people in the borough, while continuing to raise the profile of the hospitality industry as an exciting career route for young people, across the capital.
Other Pan Out employers, each about to launch their own Employer Pilot, joined the Rinova team to celebrate the achievements of this exciting initiative, with The Kennel Club, Planet Planit, London Cocktail Club and Think Rise LDN attending to show their support and to see, first hand what had been achieved so far. The standard of the catering was exceptionally high, as was the front of house service and all our employers were suitable impressed with the exceptional menu and service provided by the young finalists and students from South Thames College, working under the expert guidance of Nick Vardis and his Compass Group colleagues. They certainly have set the bar high for the rest of the Employer Pilots and those who attended were keen to take on the challenge, describing the competition as ‘truly inspiring’. The learners journey of the this years finalists was superbly documented by West Creative in the short film which took us through the stages of the Young Chef Competition (PanOut.London).
With 18 Pilots taking place over the next 14 months, we anticipate there will be a great deal more to celebrate in the coming months.
To find out more about Pan Out, the partners, schools and Employer Pilots, please visit the website at PanOut.London
