The business issue
The Mount Charles Group is a large employer with over 1,100 employees in Northern Ireland that provides Food Services and Business Support Solutions. The Mount Charles Group are passionate about what they do and with growing employee numbers, are keen to increase its presence within the local community.
Initially a business that focused on catering, Mount Charles is particularly passionate about cooking as a career as well as healthy eating.
What Mount Charles did
Mount Charles ran a cooking competition in seven schools in the Belfast area. The schools were given a brief to create a healthy, locally sourced meal on a £5 budget.
Mount Charles chefs visited all seven schools and selected a pair to represent their school in the final.
The Final was held in St Rose’s Dominican College where the teams had one hour to whip up their meals, before a team of three of The Mount Charles Group’s most experienced chefs judged their efforts and named a winning pair.
The pupils, schools and Mount Charles staff all really felt the initiative was worthwhile and Mount Charles are planning on running the event again next year.
Impacts
- Over 100 pupils from seven local schools got an insight into the catering industry
- 14 local pupils took part in the final
- One school received a donation which enabled them to buy catering equipment
Testimonial
“Overall we were very impressed with the standard and variety of meals cooked. It goes to show that healthy eating on a budget is totally achievable, it just takes a little imagination, something that each of our finalists obviously have in abundance. The pupils seemed to have loved the chance to cook and as a staff we have enjoyed being part of it!”
Marcus Lemon, Head Chef for The Mount Charles Group in the Waterfront Hall
Reporting
Many of the schools that participated uploaded articles on their school websites with photographs from the events.