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Celebrating Community Development: The First Anniversary of Xcelerate with Edgbaston

In a significant milestone for community engagement and skill development, Compass Group UK & Ireland recently celebrated the first anniversary of its regional community skills and learning hub, Xcelerate with Edgbaston. The celebratory event, hosted earlier this week, drew nearly 100 attendees, reflecting the growing impact of this initiative on local communities and the hospitality industry.

A Hub for Training and Development

Launched in 2024 with an investment of one million pounds, Xcelerate has made remarkable strides over the past year. The hub has facilitated training for approximately 2,200 individuals, showcasing its commitment to enhancing skills and fostering career growth within the hospitality sector.

Xcelerate has also hosted a variety of events, including careers fairs, culinary competitions, and team-building activities for businesses. Notably, the hub has implemented specialized training programs, such as Barista and Bar Excellence training, to equip participants with valuable skills that are in high demand in the industry.

Moreover, Xcelerate has collaborated with numerous partners, including HIT Training, Pathway Group, Lifetime Training, The Ladder Greater Birmingham, Release Potential, DWP, WMCA, Springboard, Innovate Awarding, DFN Project Search, Change Please, and Work Pays, to host impactful events. This week, the hub provided a platform for a Careers Fair specifically tailored for two local schools, further emphasizing its role in connecting education with employment opportunities.

A Meaningful Celebration

The anniversary celebration coincided with National Apprenticeship Week 2025, making it a fitting occasion to highlight the contributions of various stakeholders in the apprenticeship landscape. Attendees listened to inspiring talks from industry leaders, including representatives from Compass Group UK & Ireland, Warwickshire County Cricket, UKHospitality, Change Please, and the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance. These discussions provided valuable insights into the significance of apprenticeships in fostering career development and social mobility in the hospitality sector.

Adding a creative touch to the event, poet Casey Bailey, Birmingham’s poet laureate from 2020 to 2022, recited a special poem he composed to commemorate the anniversary. His words resonated with the audience, encapsulating the spirit of growth and potential that Xcelerate embodies.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous lunch featuring dishes such as crispy guinea fowl roulade accompanied by pickled apple puree and lemon sauce, as well as roast cauliflower with parmesan polenta and salsa Verde. Notably, some of these culinary delights were prepared by the finalists of Compass’ annual Apprentice Chef of the Year 2024 competition, showcasing the talents of emerging chefs and the support they receive from the senior chefs involved in Compass Group UK & Ireland’s esteemed ‘Forward with Marcus Wareing’ program.

A Commitment to the Future

Xcelerate with Edgbaston is strategically located at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium and is operated by Levy UK, the events, sports, and entertainment division of Compass Group UK & Ireland. The hub is dedicated to training and upskilling not only Compass colleagues but also the local community at large. Its overarching goal is to nurture and empower the next generation of hospitality professionals while providing essential skills and knowledge to community members.

This initiative aligns closely with Compass Group UK & Ireland’s commitment to fostering learning and development opportunities, encapsulated in their "Our Social Promise" initiative. This ambitious commitment aims to positively impact one million lives by the year 2030 through job creation, education, training, and community engagement.

Jonathan Foot, Director of Skills and Early Careers at Compass Group UK & Ireland, expressed his pride in the success of Xcelerate during its inaugural year. He remarked, "This facility is truly contributing to our industry and the local community. National Apprenticeship Week has been the perfect time to highlight the contributions of our people and partners, whose hard work and dedication has brought Xcelerate to life."

Foot further emphasized that the core objective of Xcelerate is to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth to individuals from diverse backgrounds, aligning with Compass’s Mission to a Million promise. As the initiative continues to evolve, he anticipates even greater achievements in the years ahead.

David Sheen, Public Affairs Director at UKHospitality, echoed these sentiments, commending Compass’s Xcelerate initiative for its transformative impact on communities and local businesses. He stated, "It demonstrates the truly transformational effect hospitality can have on people’s lives and how it can drive both social mobility and productivity through the diverse career opportunities it offers."

Through initiatives like Xcelerate, Compass Group UK & Ireland is not only shaping the future of hospitality but also making a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals in the community. This celebration marks just the beginning of a promising journey toward empowerment, education, and opportunity.