🍴 Enterprise Learning Alliance: Food Technology Classroom Refurbishment

🏫 Project Overview: Transforming a Domestic Kitchen into a Semi-Commercial Food Technology Classroom

The Enterprise Learning Alliance, a Kent County Council (KCC) organisation, provides support to young people and schools in South East Kent. The focus of the organisation is to help students develop core academic skills alongside vocational subjects, offering valuable opportunities for learning and career development.

As part of their initiative, the school required a food technology classroom that would provide students with practical, semi-commercial cooking experience. The aim was to introduce them to the hospitality industry and equip them with basic cookery and food-handling skills—valuable life skills that could potentially lead to a future career in catering and hospitality.

In 2019, we were awarded the contract for this refurbishment project, marking the third successful collaboration with the Enterprise Learning Alliance. Our task was to replace an outdated, domestic-style kitchen with a modern, hygienic stainless steel kitchen designed to provide students with a professional cooking environment.

🔨 Our Approach: Fast-Track Kitchen Installation

With a strict deadline of just one week to complete the project, we knew we needed to work quickly and efficiently to ensure minimal disruption to the Centre’s busy schedule. Half-term provided the ideal opportunity to carry out the work, and our team was committed to delivering the project on time.

Here’s how we approached the kitchen upgrade:

🛠️ Strip-Out & Preparation

The first step involved stripping out the old kitchen, which consisted of domestic-style MDF units. By 11 am on the first day, we had successfully removed the existing units, allowing us to make good progress right from the start.

🍳 Installation of Commercial-Grade Equipment

The next task was installing the extraction canopy to meet the ventilation and hygiene standards for a food technology room. We also applied Bioclad Upvc hygienic wall cladding to all surfaces, creating a safe and easy-to-maintain environment for food preparation.

Our team then carried out essential plumbing and electrical works to ensure that all services were properly connected for the new appliances.

🔩 Final Installation of Stainless Steel Counters & Appliances

On the morning of the final day, the stainless steel counters arrived, and we immediately set to work fitting them into place. These modern, commercial-grade surfaces provide a hygienic and durable workspace for the students.

Once the counters were installed, we fitted the catering appliances required for the classroom, ensuring everything was up to professional standards.

🏅 Results: A Modern, Functional Food Technology Classroom

By 5 pm on the final day, our team had successfully completed the refurbishment, ensuring the Enterprise Learning Alliance food technology classroom was ready for students to use by the following Monday morning.

The new kitchen now features:

• Hygienic stainless steel surfaces that meet the standards of a commercial kitchen, providing an ideal environment for teaching food technology.

• Bioclad Upvc wall cladding that ensures ease of cleaning and promotes a safe environment for students to learn food handling.

• New catering appliances that support both basic cooking lessons and more advanced food preparation skills.

This transformation enables students to gain hands-on experience in a professional environment, helping them develop essential skills for future careers in catering and hospitality.

📞 Contact Us for Your Next Project

Are you looking to upgrade your food technology classrooms or catering facilities? We specialise in creating semi-commercial kitchen environments that provide both functionality and hygiene standards suitable for educational settings.

Call us today on 01304 249963 to discuss your project or to find out how we can help improve your school’s catering facilities.

📸 Scroll Down to View Project Photos

Take a look at the photos below to see the transformation of the Enterprise Learning Alliance food technology classroom, from strip-out to the installation of new, commercial-grade kitchen equipment.