Gold standard of hospitality as @CAVC wins first AA College Rosette in Wales and Centre of Excellence status

The Classroom, Cardiff and Vale College’s landmark restaurant at its City Centre Campus, has won the first prestigious AA College Rosette to be awarded in Wales.

The College has also been awarded Gold accreditation as a Centre of Excellence for Hospitality provision by hospitality, travel, tourism and retail consultancy People 1^st.

AA College Rosettes are awarded to restaurants that serve food prepared with care, understanding and skill, and achieve standards that stand out in the local area. Open to the public and recently described by Observer food reviewer Jay Rayner as “a lofty vault of sunlight and optimism, and reassuringly good food” the Classroom’s top professional staff train the future generation of culinary talent in the College’s Hospitality students.

An AA Rosette judging panel visited the College to speak with the learners about the information, support and guidance they receive from the College. The judges then went on a tour of The Classroom and its facilities and saw examples of student activity from sugar work in the College bakery to the front of house learners perfectly folded napkins.

After meeting with the restaurant’s employees, from the students who work in The Classroom to the staff members who function as employees of the restaurant as a business, the judges finally inspected the dining experience itself. The Classroom was rated on service, cuisine, hospitality and venue.

The judges then awarded The Classroom an AA Rosette Level 1 Award.

People 1^st Centre of Excellence accreditation recognises colleges and providers that deliver excellent full-time or classroom based hospitality training and qualifications. It also highlights colleges and training providers that work well with employers, collaborating with them to shape the curriculum to meet industry needs while developing partnerships that create beneficial opportunities for students.

The panel of judges, made up of representatives from the industry, were impressed by The Classroom’s “focus on the real, not just the realistic” and use of employer panels to influence course development. The panel also commended the College for well-resourced and modern kitchen facilities that are “comparable to a high end hotel”, the viewing bakery and kitchen and the enthusiasm, skills and knowledge and entrepreneurial zeal of staff.

CAVC Principal Kay Martin said: “We are thrilled that The Classroom has been awarded both a coveted AA College Rosette and accreditation as a People 1^st Centre of Excellence, which covers all of our hospitality provision. Since it opened last year, the restaurant has gone from strength and has received glowing reviews from both the local and national press.

“This Rosette and gold accreditation is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our talented students and the industry professionals who are training them. Congratulations to them all.”

Notes to editors

• Photo shows (l-r) CAVC Principal Kay Martin, Junior Hospitality and Catering Apprentice Sean Brown, CAVC Acting Head Chef Cindy Challoner, Hospitality & Catering Apprentice Alex James and CAVC Deputy Head of Hospitality, Catering and Food Manufacturing Eric Couturier
• in 2016 CAVC won the prestigious UK-wide Association of Colleges Beacon Award for its innovative and sector leading apprenticeship provision
• Cardiff and Vale College is one of the top companies for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the National Centre for Diversity’s 2016 Top 100 Index. It has also been awarded the National Centre for Diversity’s Award for Welsh FE College of the Year 2016
• CAVC has been shortlisted for the TES College of the Year Award – the winner will be announced in February 2017
• Cardiff and Vale College was awarded College of the Year at the 2015 and 2016 Insider Business and Education Partnership Awards
• Apply now to join CAVC in Sept 2017
• Why not follow the latest updates from Cardiff and Vale College on Facebook.com/CardiffandValeCollege, Instagram @cavcinsta or Twitter @cavc

For more information contact:

Chris Baker

Communications Officer

Tel: 01446 725003. Mob: 07932 770938

[email protected]