Compass celebrates apprentices during 10th National Apprenticeship Week

As one of the largest employers of apprentices in the country Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest food and support services firm, celebrated its apprentices in a series of events throughout National Apprenticeship Week 2017 (6-10 March).

On 8 March, the business organised a lunch with apprentice chefs cooking a three course lunch for over 30 people aboard HMS Belfast. The event was also attended by six apprentices from various sectors of the business, alongside Compass Group UK & Ireland Managing Director, Dennis Hogan; HR Director, Fiona Ryland; as well as Compass clients. The event was an opportunity to showcase the work apprentices do and discuss the importance of their contribution within the business.

Later in the week Compass’ apprentice chefs took part in the ‘Unilever Chef Challenge’, held at Unilever’s headquarters in Leatherhead. The talented young chefs created a selection of main and dessert courses, with ESS Executive Chef and World Culinary Olympics gold medallist, Rob Kennedy judging. Coming out on top was Chef Academy Apprentice Mateusz Hnatowski, with a winning main dish of chicken breast with carrots, pomme puree and shallots.

Winner, Mateusz said, “I am over the moon to have won the Unilever Chef Challenge – competition cooking can be extremely pressurised so it was great to be able to put the skills I have learnt during my apprenticeship so far to the test in this atmosphere. The apprenticeship scheme at Compass is a great way to learn on the job, and competitions like this bring to life the hard work and learning we’re doing every day.”

Representatives from Compass also visited schools and academies throughout the country, or hosted young people in their kitchens, to raise awareness of apprenticeships.

Melanie Hayes, Resourcing and Development Director and member of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board, said, “This week has been a celebration of our apprentices throughout the business. Whether they are young people starting off their careers or experienced colleagues furthering their skills, our apprentices are passionate and hard working. As a people powered business, delivering good quality apprenticeship programmes in our various sectors is a really important way that we support our people and invest in their talent.”

Andrew Barry, Managing Director – Business & Industry, and Executive Sponsor for Compass’ apprenticeships, commented, “Nurturing and developing our talent is something I’m really passionate about and apprenticeships are one way that we do this in our business. Taking on the position of Executive Sponsor for apprenticeships means that I’m able to develop these opportunities from a strategic level – helping to grow individual’s talents, but also creating the future of our business through our people.”

In March last year Compass launched ‘It’s the start of something big’ campaign, to increase the business’ apprenticeship starters to 1,500 by the end of 2017. Since launch the business has widened the number of apprenticeship programmes it offers while also partnering with specialist provider Jigsaw Training to deliver both training and accreditation.