Just Eat for Business backs barista training for vulnerable young people

Office food delivery service Just Eat for Business is partnering with social enterprise Bloom Coffee Academy to fund four young adults through Bloom's barista training scheme.

Launched by foodservice firm, Fika Catering, the not-for-profit initiative aims to support vulnerable people including those who have been long-term unemployed, those experiencing homelessness and those with learning difficulties.

The scheme will train them to become skilled baristas, provide them with a qualification at the end of the course and support them to find full-time employment.

Matt Ephgrave, managing director at Just Eat for Business, said: "Our mission is to make people's working lives better - whether that's providing office workers with lunches, or presenting opportunities for individuals to get into the catering industry themselves.

"We're delighted that we can extend our working relationship with Fika by investing in and funding the apprenticeships for these four individuals through the Bloom Coffee Academy. It's our aim that this partnership with Bloom will help equip future workers with the tools to further their careers and we look forward to seeing them excel."

Ed Walker, founder and chief executive of Fika Catering, added: "Our vision for the Bloom Coffee Academy has always been to give people affected by homelessness a hand up, by training them to become baristas, giving them a professional SCA qualification, and assisting them with getting back into employment.

"With our partnership with Just Eat for Business, we will be able to continue to give those people referred to us not only a new skill and qualification, but also a chance to build their dignity, self-confidence and give them the opportunity to start a new chapter, to write a new story. The values really align with Fika, our catering business, which not only offers hands-on experience and coaching for our apprentices, but also helps fund the social enterprise."