CATERING
“VACHERIN BELIEVES IN A CREATING
A CONNECTION BETWEEN ITS
PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITY.”
barriers that stop women from escaping exploitative circumstances was the lack of work experience or employment opportunity. Over half of them were overwhelmed with debt, and many had not received the opportunity to complete their education. Over a third had never received any type of formal education.
Luminary has taken three groups of apprentices on six months of training in: baking skills, business acumen, and personal development. The programme takes its apprentices through a journey that builds self-confidence, teaches employable skill-sets, and provides a place of sanctuary and community support. For Vacherin, this was the perfect opportunity.
THE VACHERIN
COLLABORATION Food and people are at the heart of Luminary Bakery and being a London- based contract caterer, Vacherin believes in a creating a connection between its people and their community. Obviously we have a large amount of expertise in foodservice and hospitality and the collaboration has been a great fit; Luminary was too compelling to ignore.
Vacherin volunteers have helped the Luminary training process. Executive Company Chef, Shane Cooke, shared technical skills and his knowledge of kitchens and explained the importance of creativity in the dishes a chef prepares. He replicated teaching a workshop very similar to those he had delivered previously to Vacherin’s employees. He also taught the apprentices Vacherin’s
www.tomorrowsfm.com
signature dish – the ‘Vachtoria’ – a hybrid dessert combing the most delicious elements of Victoria Sponge cakes and the culinary craft of Vacherin. “I volunteered because I wanted to inspire people, everyone has something to give,” said Shane, “I’ve felt a real connection with teaching the apprentices, I know how difficult it can be to reach success in the foodservice industry, and I will continue to work with Luminary.”
The key to successful charity/private sector collaboration is not over complicating the partnership, but rather to apply existing skills and resources toward a mutual objective. Accordingly, having patience and putting great effort into choosing the organisation any business/ organisation may partner with is absolutely vital.
THE ‘SHARED VALUE’ For Luminary, a small and young
social enterprise, Vacherin provides access to professional skill-sets and technical expertise which the charity could not supply to the apprentices on its own. Support from the industry gives the charity’s apprentices a deeper understanding and experience, of working in the fast-paced foodservice industry. Luminary also receives access to corporate resources and help with communications, to raise its profile. (What you are reading now is a good example!). This partnership also provides Luminary with the experience of successfully executing a collaborative effort with the private sector, a feat not always easy to achieve.
For Vacherin, the greatest benefits come from employee engagement. Especially with the rise of the millennial generation, corporate employees increasingly desire the ‘feel-good’ experience that their work and that their employer is having a positive impact on society and the environment. The partnership allowed Vacherin to both engage its employees and let them use their skills and give back to the community; but also, to allow Vacherin engage the community and encourage new talent in the foodservice industry.
Whilst taking action is a good step forward, businesses can do - and benefit - even more. Wider communication has to take place to both inspire and provide examples of best practice. For Vacherin, the communications value of the project advances a positive reputational benefit from both employee and community engagement respectively. Furthermore, employee buy- in can provide the strongest communications value as every team member champions the business to friends and family, beginning to manifest that ‘collaborative culture’ within the business environment.
Both community and employee engagement create strong cases in today’s changing environment - and uniting them creates a win-win scenario. Businesses are being held responsible for a greater impact of their decision-making process many times, for reasons which prior generations might never have considered.
www.vacherin.com TOMORROW’S FM | 27
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