Taste.academy is an exciting venture that has been recently developed as one of Rhyl City Strategy’s cornerstone initiatives. 

Taste.academy opened its doors to the public for the first time in Easter 2011. This stylish and vibrant training restaurant and café offers a quality dining and café experience to local residents and visitors, as well as providing the long-term unemployed with quality skills training and supported work opportunities in a real working environment.  Taste.academy is playing a key role in upskilling a local workforce to meet labour demand and skills shortages in the hospitality and catering industry.  It is also a showcase facility that is supporting local plans to revitalise Rhyl’s tourism economy.

Rhyl City Strategy developed the project over two years, in partnership with key players including Rathbone Cymru, CJIW, North Wales Women’s Centre and Llandrillo College.  The project involved the renovation of a Denbighshire County Council premises on Rhyl promenade using a regeneration grant from the Welsh Government.  The interior design by award-winning designer  Jamie Alcock transformed the premises into a fashionable and unique facility. The catering and training at the facility is delivered by Rathbone Cymru, a registered training provider and one of Wales’ largest youth charities.    The project  received additional funding support from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Conwy/Denbighshire Substance Misuse Action Team.

Taste.academy created an initial six jobs with the appointment of a core staff team, now led by Restaurant Manager David Mathias, and now provides a range of supported employment opportunities in catering, administration and front-of-house through Rathbone’s WCVA Intermediate Labour Market programme.  In total 24 participants to date have completed an ILM programme at Taste.academy,gaining valuable work experience and a range of work-based qualifications including NVQ Certificates in Food and Beverage Servic and Food Preparation and Cooking, Business Administration, and BTec AWARDS in Home Cooking Skills Work Skills.  Participants completing the programme are supported to move onto further training options, or to find permanent work in other catering establishments. To date, 16 participants have had positive outcomes, with a number moving into employment in The Antelope Hotel in Mold, The Beaches Hotel in Prestatyn, White House in Llandudno, Kinmel Manor, and Easy Living Rhyl.

Taste hosted its first wedding in December 2011, as well as countless Christmas parties. Taste.academy works closely with other facilities in the area, offering free samples at events in the White Rose Shopping Centre in Rhyl and early bird deals for visitors to the Pavilion Theatre.  Taste also works closely with CJIW’s Farmland Project to source locally grown vegetables.

Taste.academy offers separate café and restaurant facilities within the same building.  The café is open from 10am to 10pm Tues-Sat, and 10am to 5pm on Sun/Mon.  The café provides an excellent setting for relaxing with friends or for informal business meetings.  

The more formal restaurant is open for dining from 5pm to 10pm Tues–Sat, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.  During weekdays, the restaurant is available for conferences or functions, offering either a buffet or fixed menu.

Taste.academy is situated at the Bowling Green on the Rhyl sea front, close to the Pavilion Theatre, town centre and cycle route.  We look forward to welcoming you to TASTE.

01745 344442
www.tasteacademy.co.uk

 CASE STUDIES

Anya

Anya was an unfocused, vulnerable, and easily led young person when she joined TASTE. With the support, direction & guidance from the team, Anya gained her food hygiene certificate and BTEC in Jamie’s Home Cooking Skills during her time on the ILM programme. Anya has now started at Llys Fasi College to do Entry Level in Animal Care.

Katherine

Katherine had been unemployed for 2 years; she found it difficult to find work & felt she lacked experience. During her ILM programme she achieved her NVQ level 1 in Food & Beverage Services, Food Hygiene Certificate, BTEC in Jamie’s Home Cooking Skills and her COSH Certificate. On completion of the programme Katherine was employed by Taste.academy for a short time before moving onto full time employment as head waitress at the Antelope in Mold.

Joe

Joe had been out of work for a period of time and found it if difficult to find alternative work in the local area. Cooking had interested Joe, and he felt this was a good opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Joe showed potential in the kitchen and demonstrated focus and leadership skills, Joe was made supervisor within the Kitchen. Joe completed his NVQ Level 1 in Food preparation and Cooking, Food Hygiene and COSH Certificate. On completion of the course Joe was accepted to volunteer once a week at the Grosvenor’s Hotel in Chester and has secured a Lead Chef position at the Antelope Hotel in Mold.  Joe continues to attend the Grosvenor’s Hotel to develop his cooking skills.

Kirsty

Once Kirsty started on the ILM programme with Taste, she developed a keen eye for fine dining and concentrated on developing these skills. Kirsty successfully completed the programme and has moved onto full time employment at Kimmel Manner, Kimmel Bay as a restaurant waitress.  Kirsty gained her Food Hygiene Certificate.

Jack

Jack started in the Kitchen at Taste and soon found his capabilities within this environment. Jack pursued other employment and successfully gained a work trial at Easy Living which lead onto employment there as a Chef.  Jack completed his NVQ Level 1 in Food Preparation and Cooking and Food Hygiene Certificate.

James

James completed his NVQ Level 1 in Food & Beverage Services, BTEC in Jamie’s Home Cooking Skills, Food Hygiene and COSHH Certificates.  James work as part of the Front of House team; he was made supervisor half way through the programme and mentored new and existing learners on the programme. Since leaving James has been volunteering and has now secured employment with Presthaven Sands.

 Kevin

Kevin started in the Front of House role, he had previous work experience in this environment but had not gained qualifications in this area. Kevin successfully achieved his NVQ level 1 in Food & Beverage services he has now started his NVQ Level 2 in Food & Hospitality, Kevin has also gained certificated in Food Hygiene, COSHH, Fire Marshall and Health & Safety . An opportunity arose within Rathbone at Taste.academy where Kevin applied for and was successful to gain a position as Front of House Manager.

Jason

Jason found it difficult to find work in the area, and welcomed the opportunity at Taste.academy to develop customer service skills and his English language. Welsh being Jason’s first language he found it helpful to develop his English skills but also to welcome and greet Welsh customers to the establishment. Jason worked mainly within the Restaurant side and became head waiter. Jason successfully completed his course and went onto work as Head Waiter at the Antelope in Mold.

Roger

Roger worked within the Kitchen at Taste. He had previous work experience within this environment, but wanted to develop his skills further. Roger showed talent in instructing and tutoring other ILM learners, and on completion of his course he gained a full-time position with Rathbone as a Chef Supervisor. Roger completed his NVQ Level 1 in Food Preparation and Cooking and has begun working on his NVQ Level 2. He has also achieved certificated in Food Hygiene, COSHH and Health & Safety.