74 school cooks recently completed the programme which was designed to enable them to develop skills outside of the general cooking remit and to grow their confidence.
Keith Miles from Sunderland School Meals Service said: "The School for Hospitality Leadership are leaders in their field and we wanted to develop a first class course for our school cooks. School cooks play a pivotal role in delivering healthy, nutritious and balanced meals to children on a daily basis. The management development training course has provided them with a wealth of new skills and knowledge to help drive forward the Sunderland School Meals Service."
The course involved six key topics of leadership and coaching skills, communication, commercial awareness, marketing and merchandising, managing change and handling situations.
Alan Cutler from The School for Hospitality Leadership explains: "The course is very challenging and it was particularly rewarding to see how the delegates developed in confidence as the programme progressed - to such an extent that they delivered very professional and thoughtful presentations to their senior managers on the last day.
"We are confident that through the training programme they have been empowered to drive through real and lasting benefits for Sunderland School Meals Service."
In addition to the school cooks training, eight General Assistants at Sunderland School Meals Service have also completed a 16 week internal training programme, which involves an NVQ Level 2 qualification and on the job experience, to enable them to qualify as Assistant Cooks.
Sunderland School Meals Service is committed to delivering healthy and nutritionally balanced school meals to children across Sunderland. Over the years they have made significant investment in school meals and have been highlighted as national exemplars through their innovative and pioneering work.
Sunderland School Meals Service is offered in 90% of the city's nursery, primary and secondary schools. For more information call 0800 169 6722 or visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/schoolmeals
For further information regarding training courses from The School for Hospitality Leadership visit www.hospitalityleadership.com/school_catering or call 01676 533996.
