Edgbaston is to open a new on-site catering and hospitality training centre as it looks to offer career opportunities at the stadium for people in the community.
Stadium catering partner Levy UK + Ireland – the sports and entertainment arm of Compass Group UK & Ireland – will operate the centre which is due to open at Edgbaston early next year. The state-of-the-art facility will provide front of house, back of house, facilities management and IT digital solutions training for budding chefs and hospitality professionals of the future.
It is hoped graduates from Xcelerate with Edgbaston – as the centre will be known when it opens in the Wyatt Stand – will go on to secure jobs at the iconic cricket ground. Edgbaston Operations Director Claire Daniel, said: “The centre will be equipped with cutting-edge technology allowing people to train with the latest innovations to provide customers and clients with great food and great service.
“We want to take a lead in training up the chefs, event managers, receptionists, baristas and facilities managers of the future. And hopefully some will go on to work with us here at Edgbaston.”
The Xcelerate project is a joint initiative with Edgbaston, Levy and Compass. It aligns with mutual goals to empower local communities, notably reinforcing Compass Group UK & Ireland’s ‘Mission to a million’, a campaign to impact one million lives by 2030 through its ‘Social Promise’ programme.
Robin Mills, CEO, Compass Group UK & Ireland, added: “We believe the food and support services sector is a barrierless industry and are committed to providing opportunities for all.
“Access to training is critical to help people develop the skills they need to build fulfilling careers. By setting up centres in partnership with our clients, like Edgbaston, we are going to be able to support many people in the communities in which we work.” Work is currently underway to fit-out the modern cooking stations – which will be used to provide food on match days – training areas, classrooms and customer service frontages. It’s expected to open next February.
