A startup in York is delivering a new style takeaway – local, ethical and straight from the kitchens of a primary school
School dinners have taken on a whole new meaning with the arrival of School Kitchen at Carr Junior School in York. The school, part of the South Bank Multi Academy Trust, is lending the startup its catering facilities on weekday evenings and weekends to cook up tasty takeaways. The idea is to turn an under-utilised school asset into a revenue earner with a conscience because the school receives a share of revenue and other perks in return.
So far, School Kitchen is offering dine-at-home customers an evening menu five days a week featuring Sri Lankan, Mexican, Thai and Spanish tapas from the kitchens at Carr Junior. Customers are able to mix and match their order, just as they do with the well-known delivery services, but there’s a big difference here.
Billed as ‘the takeaway that gives back’ School Kitchen is set to run cooking demonstrations for pupils, as well as providing apprenticeships for local school leavers and jobs for local chefs. There are no zero hours contracts here, and it pledges to pay all staff – from delivery riders on up – at least the current living wage. Bikes or electric mopeds will be used for deliveries and packaging for meals will be recyclable, compostable or reusable.
Managing director of School Kitchen David Nicholson has a background in food retail and says his idea was inspired by a sense that the big corporates have lost touch with the areas they serve. “I set about designing a business which had good working conditions, connection to communities, reduced carbon emissions, and decreased packaging waste, whilst still being financially viable,” he says.
“As ‘the takeaway that gives back’ School Kitchen will run cooking demonstrations for pupils and offer local apprenticeships”
“We are really impressed by School Kitchen’s innovative concept and strong commitment to sustainability,” says South Bank Multi Academy Trust Chief Executive Mark Hassack. “Not only will they offer support to our schools but the plans for offering apprenticeships show their strong belief in supporting local communities.”
School Kitchen hopes to expand this new style of dine-at-home business and is keen to hear from other schools. “We’re so excited to be finally launching in York, with big plans to expand if the appetite – in every sense – is there for our new kind of takeaway,” adds David Nicholson.
School Kitchen schoolkitchen.com
Further reading: Home school rise
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