Jamie Oliver site Fifteen Cornwall admits redundancies possible
Fifteen Cornwall, the Jamie Oliver restaurant charity set up to help train disadvantaged young people as chef apprentices, has admitted that it may be forced to make redundancies.
The Cornwall Food Foundation, which is the charity that operates the site and the Fifteen Apprenticeship Programme, said it could be forced to restructure the organisation for the first time in ten years, and was exploring ways to create efficiency savings and lay the foundations for the next decade.
The statement read: "In order to protect the organisation's future we are currently exploring the possibility that some existing roles in the foundation and senior management team could be made redundant, while some new roles could be created in the ops team."
However, it added that the group was not planning any reduction in the number of jobs, that it was keen to avoid any compulsory redundancies, and would minimise the number of employees affected. It also said that it would seek to consult with individuals and would welcome suggestions and ideas on how to "minimise the need for redundancies".
It said: "We would of course give very careful consideration towards offering alternative employment elsewhere within the organisation and re-train employees where possible."
Matthew Thomson, Fifteen Cornwall chief executive, said: "We are determined to make sure Fifteen and the Cornwall Food Foundation can do even more in its next ten years for Cornwall than they have in its first ten. While this may need us to make some difficult decisions now we will do our very best to look after all the brilliant people who have made Fifteen what it is and will continue to offer exciting opportunities to young people across Cornwall."
The statement added: "The joint boards are currently reviewing the financial and business model behind Fifteen's success."
The Cornwall Food Foundation has run the charity and trading company behind the Fifteen Cornwall restaurant and the Chef Apprentice Programme since April 2006.
Fifteen is a three-strong group from the former River Café and TV chef Jamie Oliver, which began in 2002 with a BBC TV programme and launch at Fifteen London near Old Street, and also includes a site in Amsterdam, which launched in 2004.
The Cornwall location is in Watergate Bay, near Newquay, next to hospitality businesses including the 69-room Watergate Bay hotel, and the Beach Hut restaurant.
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