1. Wavelength - Best in Class 2012
Fifteen Cornwall
Cornwall Foundation of Promise
Matthew Thomson
matthew@fifteencornwall.co.uk
2. • Setting the scene
• Point of Excellence – Andy Appleton, Head Chef
• Point of excellence – Gordon Lawrence, Sommelier
• Setting the scene
• Business context - balancing the social and commercial
• Business context – the numbers
• Apprentice programme – Ben Arthur, Training Chef and
ex-apprentice
• The future
• Q&A
3. Points of Excellence: Andy Appleton – Head Chef
• Food provenance
• Kitchen culture
• Service quality
• Leading excellence - inspiration
• Managing tension between being a professional kitchen and a
training kitchen
4. Points of Excellence: Gordon Lawrence – Sommelier
social mission drives performance & culture
provenance
educating customer
training and development / transformation of front of
house experience
Master of Wine
5. Setting the scene - people
• 850 applications for programme in six years
• 108 apprenticeships completed in six years
• Served over 450,000 meals
• 85 year round FTE jobs
• Over 30 local producers engaged
• Touching thousands of lives
with one of Cornwall’s biggest brands
6. Setting the Scene - timeline
• 2002-5 Local lobbying – Betty Hale letter writing campaign;
local entrepreneur Henry Ashworth offers site and support
• 2005 – Fifteen London visit and agreement to create
Fifteen Cornwall
• 2005 – Cornwall College, Restormel Council and Job Centres Plus
collaborate to secure funding
• 2006 – Top team recruited, restaurant refurb, May opening
7. Business context - model
• Structure: charity owns sole share in private ltd company
subsidiary
• Commercial Methods & Management Processes: performance
and bookings management, profit monitoring, operational
controls, market led planning
• Franchise: spirit more important than letter; use of name, access
to contacts and Jamie’s stardust and engagement in programme
• Social purpose driving Business value: staff motivation, USP,
strategic focus
8. Business context - numbers
Restaurant turns over c £3.5M p.a.
c. 10% profit Gift Aided back to charity = £350k
Catalyst for public funding revenue c £295k p.a.
Contracts and commissions – payment by results
Unit costs approximately £34k per apprentice p.a.
Comparable costs of custody (£72k) and benefits (£52k)
Balancing social and commercial value in the numbers
9. Apprentice programme
• Recruitment and ‘Boot Camp’
• Cornwall College – VRQ and NVQ
• Kitchen Induction – basic skills and safety
• Kitchen Service – professional discipline
• Work Placement – web of partners
• Apprentice Week – White hats lead service
• Kitchen completion - finessing
• Welfare and Personal Development – ongoing, targeted,
responsive, tailored
• Job brokerage – placement led – 100% C6
10. Apprentice programme
Ben Arthur
background and journey
apprentice life - experience
graduation – importance of completion
working – relevance of apprenticeship to professional life
perspective and approach as training chef
11. The Future
• Food – Fifteen Cornwall
Front of house
Campaign
Merchandise
Other sites
• Beyond Food – Cornwall Foundation of Promise application of
Excellence model to other sectors