Vocational training kitchen Kent — this case study by Kent Commercial Kitchens.
Case study · Schools & education
Southwood Centre, Deal
Specifically, Vocational training kitchen Kent — specifically, Teaching kitchen and vocational training space for Enterprise Learning — induction cooking stations, bespoke stainless fabrication and hygienic finishes, delivered in 3 weeks.
Client
Enterprise Learning
Location
Deal, Kent
Project value
£25k–£50k
Build time
3 weeks
The brief
Vocational training kitchen Kent: classroom converted into a teaching kitchen
Additionally, The Southwood Centre in Deal is a vocational training facility run by Enterprise Learning, providing skills and employment training for adults across the local area. Specifically, the brief was to convert an existing classroom into a fully functional food technology teaching kitchen — a practical space where students could learn catering skills in a properly specified environment.
Furthermore, The project also included a hairdressing salon build within the same programme, completing the centre's vocational training suite. Moreover, Both spaces had to be delivered together, since the brief required a complete vocational training suite. Also, All works needed to be delivered within a 3-week window to minimise disruption to the centre's training schedule.
What we did
A teaching kitchen built for practical skills training
Induction cooking stations
In particular, A vocational training kitchen Kent for Deal.
Specifically, to meet the training brief, multiple induction cooking stations were installed across the kitchen — a central island induction suite and wall-mounted stations giving each student a dedicated working position. In particular, induction was specified for a training environment: safer, cleaner and easier to manage than gas in a classroom setting, and suited to the range of cooking tasks in a food technology programme.
Bespoke stainless steel fabrication
Additionally, prep benches, sink runs and equipment stands were fabricated in-house at our Folkestone workshop and installed to fit the converted classroom dimensions. Additionally, Lamona ovens were specified and installed alongside the induction stations to complete the cooking suite. In particular, all fabrication built to food-safe standards and sized for a multi-student teaching environment.
Hygienic finishes throughout
Additionally, for the finishes, Whiterock UPVC hygienic wall cladding was installed across all kitchen surfaces — durable, wipe-clean, and EHO-compliant for a food preparation environment. In particular, altro Stronghold 30 slip-resistant safety flooring laid throughout, coved at all wall junctions. Finally, a suspended ceiling was installed to complete the finish and improve the acoustic environment for teaching.
Equipment specified
Practical, safe and teaching-appropriate
- Induction hob stations — island and wall-mounted, individual student positions
- Lamona ovens — cooking suite alongside induction stations
- Bespoke stainless steel — prep benches, sink runs, equipment stands
- Whiterock UPVC hygienic wall cladding — full kitchen coverage
- Altro Stronghold 30 slip-resistant safety flooring — coved finish throughout
- Suspended ceiling — acoustic and finish improvement
The installation
Inside the completed teaching kitchen
The outcome
Operational within the training schedule
Notably, As a result, the teaching kitchen and hairdressing salon were both handed over within the 3-week programme, with the Southwood Centre able to run its vocational training courses without disruption. Therefore, Enterprise Learning now has a properly specified food technology kitchen — safe, compliant, and built around the practical demands of skills training. Consequently, This project was also part of a growing relationship with EKC Group across multiple sites in Kent.
- CEDA Member The Catering Equipment Distributors Association — UK's voice for foodservice equipment specialists.
- ISO 9001 · 14001 · 45001 Certified The only Kent commercial kitchen design-and-install firm certified to all three.
- F-Gas Certified Certified to handle and install refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and cooling equipment.
- Gas Safe Registered All commercial gas installations carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers.
- Part of Advantage Catering Equipment Kent's design, supply and service specialists since 2003.
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