Concept Conference
Concept Conference Centre is a social enterprise based in Birmingham which provides training opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
The Concept Centre wants to challenge the unfortunate stigma attached to blind and partially sighted people in employment by giving them the chance to gain experience in the hospitality and catering industry.
Last year 7,000 delegates used the centre and customer satisfaction scores were regularly 90% or over.
Staff at Concept
Concept aims to reach out to employers and showcase the benefits of employing blind and partially sighted people.
Over 80% of Concept’s core staff are visually impaired and a number of trainees were long-term unemployed. Unfortunatey visually impaired people are less likely to be offered work, particularly in the catering industry.
Kevin, a kitchen trainee, has become more positive about his future since starting at Concept:
"When I took the trainee post at Concept... I knew it would not be easy because I had worked in the manufacturing industry for the last 20 years. I am more motivated and the new skills and confidence I have gained in the last 12 months will help me with my future job prospects."
All trainees benefit from:
- Paid training for 50 weeks.
- Practical work experience and skills in hospitality and catering, business administration, marketing, and company placement opportunities.
- Improved interpersonal skills and life skills, such as confidence building, experience working in a team, cooking, shopping and budgeting.
- All of the trainees who have passed through the centre have either gone into paid employment, volunteering or further education.
At the centre
- All food is served in an open plan kitchen, this gives visitors and delegates the opportunity to meet the kitchen staff and helps to challenge any misconceptions some may have about blind and partially sighted people.
- Using only locally sourced ingredients, all of Concept’s food is home made on the premises.
- Concept was awarded the top 5H score by Birmingham City Council for hygiene standards which they are extremely proud of. The chefs have Level 4 and Level 3 Awards in Managing Food Safety Catering.
- As a third sector conferencing facility Concept works in partnership with other organisations.
- They support local supplier networks and environmental initiatives such as recycling.
- Concept also works with independent trainers to provide quality training courses at a fair price.
To find out more about Concept and what they can offer please visit their website: www.conceptconferencecentre.com
You can follow Concept on Twitter
Keep up to date with Concept on Facebook
Contact information:
Concept Conference Centre
RNIB
58-72 John Bright Street
Birmingham
B1 1BN
Tel: 0121 665 4250
