Potential industry recruits may not be aware that many military, school, college and hospital sites rely on foodservice companies to deliver their high quality catering services.

Several distinguished foodservice management organisations are set to change this by ensuring they have a strong set of Springboard Ambassadors to go in to schools, colleges and universities to inform and encourage young people to persue a career in our industry.

Sodexo is one such organisation who asked Springboard to train two cohorts of Springboard Ambassadors earlier this year and already several of them have made a real impact.

Sodexo chef, Ian Grout, has already organised and been a judge at a young chef competition at Queen Anne’s School. Ian has also held demonstrations at a London school, helped some students create and develop their CVs and gave them some insight into what to do when going for an interview. Since he qualified as a Springboard Ambassador in April this year, Ian has already worked with more than 200 young people – all of this in addition to his very demanding day job. Well done Ian keep up the good work!

Another Sodexo Ambassador is Peter Bartholdy. Peter has been working very hard at supporting The Doncaster Move On Charitable Project. This is a project for young people coming out of the care system who are homeless or in danger of becoming so.

Peter has been teaching the young people one of the most important life skills of all – how to cook! Peter will be giving regular cookery lessons, teaching basic cookery skills and the group will work towards putting together a Gala Dinner run along the lines of Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’!

Well done to both these hard working chefs who are prepared to take time out of their busy schedule to put something back into the community in their roles as Springboard Ambassadors.