STUDENTS served up a tasty feast to showcase the hospitality skills they have been learning.

Eight students from Treviglas Community College ran a live café at SeaSpace in Porth as part of their Cornwall Hospitality Collective training.

Behind the scenes they have been training with leading industry experts including Tallo’s head chef Grant Goodson and Cornish Tea & Coffee.

Tallo’s head chef Grant Goodson showing the students how to make pizza
Tallo’s head chef Grant Goodson showing the students how to make pizza

The students have learnt various skills including cooking, baking, produce and provenance, barista training, marketing and front-of-house service, before bringing it all together in the Treviglas Collective Café takeover.

(L-R) Cornwall Hospitality Collective director Mark Lewin with two students at the ready to take orders (Picture: Warren Wilkins)
(L-R) Cornwall Hospitality Collective director Mark Lewin with two students at the ready to take orders (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

They developed the menu, cooked pizza and whipped up desserts including Eton mess and a classic coffee and cream dessert, which they served to family and friends for the final part of their training.

The students learnt barista skills as part of the training (Picture: Warren Wilkins)
The students learnt barista skills as part of the training (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

The young people were chosen to take part as it was felt they would benefit from additional opportunities to develop confidence, connection, and real-world skills in a supportive environment.

James Cavanagh-Shaddock, a director of the Cornwall Hospitality Collective, said: “The live café has been fantastic.

“We’ve had a good group of students that were selected by the school who were interested in hospitality.

“We have seen the students grow in confidence and put the skills they have learnt into practice.”

Students showcasing the menu for the live cafe
Students showcasing the menu for the live cafe

Laura Ford, the careers lead at Treviglas Community College, added: “The young people have picked up lots of skills throughout the scheme, and it has helped increase their confidence, self-esteem and sense of belonging.”

Student Daisy Lines said: “It has been great learning new skills and cooking for everyone.”

A student making a tasty pizza during the live cafe (Picture: Warren Wilkins)
A student making a tasty pizza during the live cafe (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

Cornwall Hospitality Collective has so far delivered six Collective Cafe courses working with 40 students across nine secondary schools including Mounts Bay, Newquay Tretherras, Richard Lander, Penair, Humphrey Davy and Poltair.

Thirty-seven have gone on to choose GCSE food and catering.

The scheme has been funded by the National Lottery and the Cornwall Community Foundation.