The Compass Group Academy
Compass Group UK & Ireland has announced the launch of the Compass Group Academy, designed to develop skills in the hospitality industry and focused in particular on supporting young people from disadvantaged areas to build careers in the sector.
The academy's physical and online hub will be based in the West Midlands and will open in 2023. It will train people in disciplines including hospitality, culinary and services. Compass says that this multi-million pound investment comes at a time of considerable talent shortages across the industry.
With its central location, Compass Group says the academy will target people in the UK’s ‘cold spots’, being "the parts of the country with the lowest prospects in education and employment", to provide an opportunity to enter the world of work.
In a related move, Compass has also said that from early next year it will begin measuring the social-economic background of its 40,000 employees, "with the view to provide the support to help colleagues from all backgrounds progress and grow careers in the business". Employees will be able to track the impact of positive interventions through training and skills development.
To ensure the academy achieves Compass’ goal of improving social mobility in the UK, Chris Moore has been appointed as managing director. Moore was previously chief executive of The Clink Charity, a not-for-profit that trains prisoners in front and back of house hospitality roles. Moore was recently recognised at the Foodservice Cateys, a catering industry award, with the Outstanding Contribution award for his services to the industry.
