Colchester Institute is celebrating having been awarded a significant funding grant from the Savoy Educational Trust to support its ambitious £1.3m hospitality modernisation programme.
Given the national shortfall of skilled hospitality workers, the aim of the programme is to excite and encourage more people to follow a career in hospitality, which will enhance existing and forge new industry employer partnerships. It is intended to align curriculum delivery to modern professional industry cookery methods which are being increasingly being demanded by top restauranteurs.
The Centre for Hospitality and Food Studies (CH&FS) has a strong record of producing consistently high outcomes for learners with excellent destination data for decades, cementing its status as one of the leading college providers of professional cookery and hospitality in the East of England.
The facility supports around 200 students each year to build successful careers and take up roles in some of the most prestigious restaurants and hotels in the UK and beyond, and the College is determined to remain at the forefront of the hospitality training sector.
Recognising that industry leading restaurants have been transitioning to electric induction suites, college leaders commissioned a three-year investment programme to completely refresh the facilities, which commenced with the refurbishment of the Balkerne Restaurant, followed by an upgrade of one of two patisserie training kitchens.
However, the Balkerne Training Kitchen, by far the largest facility on campus as it also serves the main commercial restaurant, is likely to cost c£400k to completely modernise the entire kitchen including new cookers, induction hobs, fryers, grills and worktops. This crucial phase has been supported by a £141,389 grant approved by members of the Savoy Educational Trust – one of the largest grants they have approved for some time.
Gary Horne MBE, Deputy Chief Executive said ”We are so pleased to bring this project forward to enhance our reputation for providing a strong pipeline of top talent to the hospitality industry. With the help of the Savoy Educational Trust, we have every confidence we will achieve our headline target to increase student numbers by 30% by 2030. Whilst our students will become familiar with modern cooking methods, easing their transition to industry, what’s also really important to us is contribution this will make to reducing our carbon footprint – fossil fuel divestment is critical to make sure we achieve our net zero ambitions”
Angela Maher, Chief Executive of the Savoy Educational Trust, said: “We are delighted to support Colchester Institute as it continues its ambitious investment in hospitality education. The College’s commitment to creating industry-standard learning environments reflects a shared ambition to equip learners with the skills, confidence and experience needed for successful long-term careers in hospitality. By investing together in projects such as this, we can help ensure the next generation of hospitality professionals are trained in facilities that reflect the modern workplace and are well prepared to meet the needs of the industry.”
Paul Milsom, Managing Director at Milsom Hotels and Restaurants, and life president of the Pride of Britain hotels said “We have been supporting Colchester Institute students for many years through work experience and familiarisation events and as an organisation we are absolutely delighted to see this level of commitment, which is so important to the future of our industry”
The Savoy Educational Trust awards grants to projects that enhance skills, knowledge and opportunities for students and professionals entering, developing and progressing within the hospitality sector and through grant-making, they help strengthen the future hospitality workforce and support excellence across the industry.
The College is working with its delivery partners to ensure the new facilities are open for the new intake of students this September.
