Free, hands-on hospitality training for people who have been homeless, marginalised or vulnerable, with qualifications, placements and support into work.
Who it's for
The Academy is for adults aged 18 and over who have experienced homelessness, are at risk of it, or face other barriers to work, such as leaving care, recovery, leaving the justice system or long-term unemployment.
Each year we train more than 100 people. Trainees learn alongside our experienced executive chef and front-of-house team, including shifts in our flagship restaurant in central Leeds.
Completely free
No course fees, ever.
Travel covered
Bus fares paid on training days.
Kit provided
Chef whites, aprons and safety shoes.
Lunch every day
Cooked by the team, eaten together.
A named mentor
One person who knows your goals.
Flexible start
New cohorts start every few weeks.
Get in touch yourself or through a support worker. We’ll have an informal chat, no forms to fill in on the spot.
Spend a day in the kitchen, meet the team and see if it feels right. No pressure.
Join a programme that fits your goals, with a dedicated mentor and a small group.
Put your skills to work in our restaurant, cafés or events team, often paid.
We help with CVs, interviews and introductions to employers, then stay in touch.
Programmes
Showing all 8 programmes
A gentle first step for anyone who has been out of work or education for a while. Small groups, practical cooking sessions and plenty of support to settle in.
Where: All four cities
Register interest →Our core chef programme. Learn knife skills, prep, cooking methods and kitchen hygiene alongside professional chefs in a working kitchen.
Where: All four cities
Register interest →Welcoming guests, table service, tills, allergens and handling the busy moments with a smile. Ideal if you enjoy working with people.
Where: Leeds, Manchester
Register interest →Espresso, milk texturing, latte art and running a coffee bar during a real café service at one of our training cafés.
Where: Leeds, Sunderland, Manchester
Register interest →Join our catering team at conferences, weddings and community events. Learn set-up, service and the teamwork it takes to feed hundreds of guests.
Where: Doncaster, Sunderland
Register interest →A paid, real-world placement in our city-centre restaurant, working shifts alongside our executive chef and front-of-house team.
Where: Leeds
Register interest →The recognised qualification most food businesses ask for. Short, practical and included in every kitchen programme.
Where: All four cities
Register interest →One-to-one support after training: CVs, interviews, travel to work, and a friendly check-in during the first months of a new job.
Where: All four cities
Register interest →
No programmes match that search. Try another keyword or city, or talk to us, as we can often tailor a route for you.
Taster days
Taster days run every month in each city. You’ll cook lunch with the team, meet current trainees and graduates, and ask anything you like. Bring a friend or your support worker if it helps.
Support workers, hostels, charities and job centres can refer people to the Academy in a few minutes.
AI support assistant · Demo
Demo assistant with pre-set answers. For anything urgent, call 0113 496 0750.
