Plumpton College launches AgriFood centre and training kitchen

Plumpton College has officially opened its new AgriFood Centre and training kitchen in partnership with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt A School and the Table Talk Foundation.

The large extension to Plumpton College's site will allow the integration of the college's land-based students alongside school-aged students taking advantage of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt A School programme, taught by Sussex Adopt A School chef John McManus.

Funding for the new training kitchen was raised jointly by the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt A School and the Sussex-based Table Talk Foundation.

"The partnership between the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt a School Trust, Table Talk Foundation and Plumpton College enables us to provide high quality food education to local children and young people using outstanding facilities," said Helena Houghton, executive director, of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt a School Trust.

"We are excited to be connecting the worlds of agriculture, food and hospitality and offering children an insight into the diverse careers and opportunities they offer. Each partner brings something unique to the relationship and we are looking forward to the initiative growing over the years ahead."

Jeremy Kerswell, principal at Plumpton College, who spoke to guests at the launch event this week, commented: "We've been very successful in developing our butchery and bakery courses over the last couple of years and the opening of the training kitchen will allow us to develop these further as well as provide our college students with food preparation and nutrition programmes.

"The new facilities, including the state-of-the-art conferencing suite will mean we can work closely with employers in the Sussex food and drink region. The building has built in classrooms and will allow us to work with operators in our region to help provide them with new entrants and apprentices. We can all use this space to come together and hear and learn from each other and we will use it as a hub for gatherings of the food, drink, and land-based industries.

Adopt A School and Table Talk will use the training kitchen two days a week to provide a training space for schools in the local area and have kicked off the initiative by offering five primary schools a pilot session.

Jessica Aggarwal, co-founder of the Table Talk Foundation, explained: "The kitchen gives us a permanent base, allowing children to learn in an environment that can really inspire them and let them get their hands messy. Our partnership with Plumpton College and the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt a School Trust means children will have the opportunity to explore the farm and dairy and see exactly where their food comes from."

Once established the courses will be heavily subsidised for schools going forward to ensure money is not a barrier to entry for any child. Each session will cost approx. £1,000 for a class of 30 children.

Visit the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts' Adopt a School or the Table Talk Foundation for more information on kitchen sessions or to donate.