The Junior Chefs Academy retains its Big Tick

Compass Group's Junior Chefs Academy, which attracts, develops and trains new talent for the hospitality industry, has retained its Big Tick in the education category for 2009.

The Big Tick is awarded to businesses that are able to demonstrate significant impact and high quality management of their responsible business practices and who can show a positive impact both on society and on the business.

The Junior Chefs Academy has been operating since 2003 and is now run in 39 colleges across the UK & Ireland. The Academy takes place on Saturday mornings and runs for 10 weeks over which time the students will receive over 30 hours of expert tutoring. By the end of 2009, more than 3600 young people will have experienced a flavour of the hospitality industry.

In 2009, Compass Group expanded the Academy to focus on three different skill levels, linked the Academy to its apprenticeship scheme and started on the path to NVQ accreditation.

Stephen Howard, chief executive, Business in the Community said: "The Big Tick is now recognised as both a valuable and difficult award to achieve. It means a company has demonstrated ways in which they positively make a difference to the environment, their workplace, the community or in the marketplace in which they sell, advertise or trade."

Words: Maria Bracken

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