The Felix Project looks to event catering to support commis chef apprenticeship scheme

Food redistribution charity the Felix Project has bolstered its event catering business to create more opportunities for its first cohort of commis chef apprentices.

 

The commis chef apprenticeship was launched in November last year in partnership with homelessness charity Beam and apprenticeship provider Umbrella Training to train young people “from complicated backgrounds” into employment.

 

There are currently four apprentices aged between 18 and 25 on the 14-month-long scheme. None of them were in education, employment or training prior to the apprenticeship.

 

As part of the programme, apprentices prepare ready-to-eat ‘Felix meals’ for Londoners in need, while also sharpening their culinary skills through in-depth lessons led by chef trainer Stefano “Toto” Dell’Aringa.

 

These have included masterclasses at Felix’s dedicated training kitchen with industry experts such as chef Francesco Mazzei and butchers HG Walter.

 

Upon completion of the scheme, the apprentices will receive a Level 2 qualification.

 

Dell’Aringa told The Caterer: “The apprentices started with zero knowledge of a kitchen or anything. They didn’t know what an eggplant was, to put it into context. We try to follow the Umbrella curriculum, so every month we focus on a different topic. At the moment, it’s pasta and noodles. We’re going through the basics and then a couple of things a bit off the beaten track to try to keep it a bit entertaining.

 

“We’ve been doing some events as well as internal and external catering events for Felix Project. At the moment, I’m in the process of conducting a few entities in our network to get some work experience, so I believe in six months, there’s already been quite good progress from not knowing the basics of a kitchen to potentially working in a professional one.”

 

Over the past four years, the Felix Project has held flagship events “not as a catering business” but as a one-off, such as the Founders’ Dinner, a three-course, thank-you meal to roughly 90 supporters.

 

The charity is looking to formalise this type of catering offering to strengthen the longevity of the apprenticeship scheme.

 

Nick Kerle, head of production at the Felix Project, said: “We’re very much looking at events, which are impactful to our wider ambitions as an organisation. Looking ahead, our chef trainer Toto is doing a little masterclass at Taste for a bit of publicity, and we’ve got an event with one of our large donors where we are supporting with outdoor catering – barbecues, salad-style things. It’s going to be a fundraising event for the Felix Project, so we’re very much looking at it as opportunities to support our core work.”

 

The Felix Project has been fundraising over the past few months to secure a second cohort of commis chef apprentices.

 

“We very much hope to be running this next year and the years to come,” Kerle added.

 

Malachi Brown, one of the trainees on the apprenticeship scheme, said: “I found out about the apprenticeship because I was looking for work, but I really didn’t want to, despite obviously needing a job. But then I saw the apprenticeship, it looked pretty interesting.

 

“This is my first job, and I was very nervous. It’s helped me a lot with anxiety, depression, all sorts of stuff. Before this, I didn’t think I’d be up to it, but [through] all the confidence I’ve gained through the apprenticeship so far, I have come a long way.”

 

In the meantime, the Felix Project has called out to suppliers, supporters and friends of the charity to support with work experience opportunities.

 

The Felix Project was founded in 2016 and has since grown to become London’s largest food redistribution charity, ensuring good food does not go to waste.

 

Last year it launched the Felix Connect platform for one-off food donations.