Suffolk New College is hosting an event aimed at promoting hospitality in the county next week.
The educational establishment will link up with Local Flavours and VENI where they will offer members of the public free entry to a fun day of activities that are taking place on Saturday 1 October 2022 between 11am and 4pm at the college campus based on Rope Walk.
Free activities will include have a go cooking activities for children, face painting, tractors will be on site, sports sessions will be on offer, as will live pottery, book making, animal handling, dog grooming sessions and a range of local producers will be introducing their produce.
In addition to this, paid for activities will give visitors the chance to visit the college restaurant (Chefs’ Whites) for brunch between 9.30am and 10.30am (pre booking only) and the college salon (called The Zone) will be open for treatments at affordable prices.
Mike Mulvihill is helping to arrange this event on behalf of Suffolk New College. Mike said: “We have teamed up with VENI and Local Flavours to help promote hospitality.
“The aim is for people to come away appreciating what a great part of the world that Suffolk and East Anglia is and to hopefully recognise that we are producing and offering some great stuff for people to eat.
“In addition to this, we are keen to celebrate hospitality and showcase what a great industry it is to work in. Since the double whammy of Brexit and Covid, lots of people have moved into other sectors, so anything we can do as a college to promote the benefits of careers in hospitality is a major focus for us at the minute.”
(Local Flavours was set up to support food producers and suppliers in East Anglia and VENI (standing for Visitor Economy Network Initiative that is part funded by the European Social Fund) creates opportunities for people of all ages to learn more about the importance of the visitor economy).
Director of Growth, Innovation and Strategic Projects at the college is Emma Taylor. Emma said: “Suffolk New College is pleased to be a partner in the VENI project which brings educators and SMEs closer to the training table and invests in skills for the local visitor economy. The project is led by West Suffolk College with partners from across Norfolk and Suffolk. “As part of VENI, Suffolk New College is delivering cookery demonstrations and other events to showcase the Suffolk Centre for Culinary Arts.
“In addition to this event, we are also offering experience days for schools in our catering facilities, and a programme of free training for hospitality businesses.”