Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest food and support services firm, has become the first Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) accredited Premier Training Campus in the UK’s contract catering industry.
This move will make Compass Group UK & Ireland the third campus in the UK and the first globally in Compass Group to be awarded the accreditation. Compass’ headquarters in Chertsey, reflects the investment Compass has put into developing an outstanding coffee offer for its customers and clients.
SCA Premier Training Campus accreditation is the pinnacle of coffee training, reserved for facilities that offer a unique setting for coffee education.
To receive the prestigious accreditation, Compass had to ensure the provision of a faultless education environment, including the very best in espresso, brewing and water treatment equipment, as well as a perfect atmosphere in which baristas can learn.
In addition, Sonia Carvalho, Head of Hot Beverage at Compass Group UK & Ireland, has achieved Authorised SCA Trainer (AST) accreditation, joining an elite group of coffee professionals from across the UK.
Compass will now be authorised to deliver accredited SCA barista training at foundation, intermediate and professional levels in-house to further develop the capability and skills of Compass’ baristas.
Stephen Lovegrove, Head of Format (Café and Foodvenience) – Compass Group UK & Ireland, said:
“Receiving the prestigious Premier Training Campus accreditation from the SCA is a huge moment for coffee in Compass as we work towards our goal of having the best coffee, the best training and the best people. Mixed with Sonia Carvalho’s training accreditation, we are now perfectly placed to provide our baristas with the very best training available.”
By receiving both Premier Campus and AST accreditation, Compass will ensure the highest quality of training for its baristas, representing an important step in the development of its coffee offer, as well as the careers of its colleagues. Foundation SCA training is mandatory for all baristas in Compass’ developed coffee brands – namely Peak St., Crackle & Hum and Caffé Dallucci, while higher standards of training will now be available to those baristas who want to further their skills.
Commenting on how her training accreditation, which allows the SCA Coffee Skills course to be taught in-house, will raise Compass’ coffee offer, Sonia Carvalho said:
“I am excited to be joining an elite group of coffee training experts and, more importantly, to start providing this high level of training to our passionate colleagues. This is great news for the business, our baristas and ultimately, our customers, who will benefit from coffee prepared by our highly trained colleagues.”
Owen Thom, Quality Coordinator – SCA, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Compass Group UK & Ireland, a long-time partner and supporter of coffee education. Their continual focus on coffee quality and training will ensure outlets across the country will be serving great quality coffee to a consistently high standard.”
Compass recently opened registration for its first Barista Academy, an elite group of baristas from within the business. Once established, the Academy will become a source of best practice, used alongside the advanced educational capabilities of the SCA Premier Training Campus and Sonia Carvalho’s training accreditation to keep raising the standard of Compass coffee offer.
