The team at the Glow & Grow training café are celebrating a fantastic achievement after being awarded a 5-star hygiene rating – recognition of the commitment, professionalism and hard work shown by both staff and learners.

The café is a key element of a one-year study programme for adult learners aged 18-25 years with SEND, delivered by Derby City Council’s Transition2, as part of their vocational learning programmes. As part of their workplace rotation, learners spend time working in the café, gaining hands-on experience in a professional hospitality and catering environment. During this placement, each learner completes, as a minimum, a Level 1 Food Hygiene qualification, providing a valuable and transferable credential to support future employment or progression into a Supported Internship.

Currently open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 2pm, the café also offers room hire and catering for on-site events. However, beyond its day-to-day operations, its primary purpose is to provide a realistic workplace setting where learners can develop essential employability skills.

Laura Haden-Tempest, Training Café Team Leader, said:  “learners are involved in all aspects of running the café – from stock control and health and safety checks to customer service and food preparation – helping them to build confidence, take responsibility and develop a strong understanding of workplace expectations. The impact of this approach is already clear. One learner from the Pre- Supported Internship ‘World of Work’ programme has successfully secured paid employment, using her catering experience as a foundation. Another, who was initially hesitant about working in a café environment, has found the experience both enjoyable and rewarding, opening up new possibilities for his future career.”

The Glow & Grow training café demonstrates how practical, real-world, supportive, learning environments can build confidence and create meaningful pathways into employment. Pop in for a cuppa, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10am – 2pm.