Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s latest Power 40 event brought county business leaders together for an event at Carlisle College.
Organised in partnership between the college and the chamber, the aim of the event was to inform businesses about recent developments in the education system and show off the talents of the college’s catering and hospitality students.
The event was held in the college’s Oyster restaurant, where students welcomed guests with a glass of Prosecco. Principal of Carlisle College, Sarah McGrath then delivered the opening speech before the first course was served.
The five-course menu for the event was designed by the students and featured traditional dishes with a Cumbrian twist including pea soup with poached duck egg and Cumbrian ham, and Cumberland sausage, mashed potatoes and onion gravy as the main dish. The Cumberland sausage was made from scratch like the rest of the food including the freshly baked bread served with the soup.
After the first course, guests heard presentations about the new T-level qualification from assistant principal Jack Redpath and apprenticeships from assistant principal Suzy Willings. Vice principal Christian Thersby spoke the college’s adult learning courses.
During the presentations, the kitchen was busy preparing the dessert of sticky toffee pudding and ice cream followed by petit fours. At the end of the evening, the students came out of the kitchen to talk to the guests about the food and how they’d enjoyed the evening.
Kevin Warman, LSIP Engagement Manager at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our thanks to Carlisle College for hosting our latest Power 40 and for engaging with the business community around the different programmes, qualifications and recruitment pathways on offer.
“I was so impressed by the students who served a fantastic meal and looked after us so well, some of whom were just in their second month of college having only started in September! It’s great to see students learning these culinary and customer service skills which are in such high demand in Cumbria’s hospitality sector.”
