Supplier Awards 2025: Community Campaign of the Year – the Burnt Chef Project

Not-for-profit social enterprise the Burnt Chef Project has turbocharged the hospitality industry’s conversations around mental health.

With a mission to create positive change and challenge the stigma that surrounds the issue, the organisation has continued to expand its services and resources in the past year by providing support for both individuals and businesses.

It launched a partnership with higher education providers to offer a series of college modules for those in the hospitality sector. The modules tackle the increase of social anxiety within the younger generation and more than 3,700 students have been trained for free in mental health awareness and stress reduction across 103 colleges.

By equipping chefs of the future, managers and hospitality workers with the tools and knowledge to support themselves and their colleagues, the Burnt Chef Project’s training courses lay the groundwork for long-term cultural change in the industry.

The Burnt Chef Project has trained 170 global peer support network ambassadors to date, thus creating an international peer support system. People in need of additional support can ‘drop-in’, virtually or in person, to a support group session to access a safe space where operators can share experiences and support one another.

Its also recently launched global whistleblowing service, providing a trusted avenue for employees to communicate issues within the workplace through a safe third-party channel.

The organisation is rightly being recognised for ensuring that everyone within the hospitality ecosystem can gain access to the essential tools they need to address mental health, mental hygiene and mental illness.

Judges’ comment

“The Burnt Chef Project is a tailored, focused and purposeful project that is incredibly relevant and impactful across the industry.”

Tom Mullin, menu and procurement analyst, Pizza Pilgrims

Shortlist

• Nestlé Professional
• The Burnt Chef Project
• United UK