YOUNG people with learning disabilities from Foxes Academy in Minehead teamed up with four top chefs to prepare and serve a fine dining experience for hospitality leaders from across the South West.

The dinner took place last Thursday evening at the Castle Hotel in Taunton and enabled hospitality employers to experience an untapped source of talent their industry badly needs - the sector is predicted to create more than 500,000 jobs in the next five years.

Workers with learning disabilities form a readily available employment group – but only 5.8 per cent are in paid work.

By stark contrast, Foxes Academy - a hospitality and catering training hotel specifically for young people with learning disabilities - has seen 73 per cent of its leavers over the past three years enter employment.

Foxes and the Castle Hotel have forged a joint partnership, and the Castle’s head chef Liam Finnegan has been proving an inspiration to the young Foxes students, aged between 17 and 25.

He has encouraged them by offering work experience placements and taken on a commis chef with learning disabilities who trained in the hotel’s kitchen to NVQ Level 2 and earned an ‘Outstanding Individual’ award as part of Adult Learners’ Week.

Last Thursday’s starter was prepared by the students under the watchful eye of the RAC Club’s executive chef Philip Corrick and head chef Howard Bisset, Liam worked with them to cook the main course, then Werner Hartholt, resort development chef at Butlin’s in Minehead, supported them in preparing the dessert.

All the chefs donated their time and ingredients to raise awareness with their peers about the economic and cultural benefits of employing a diverse team, and welcome drinks were provided by Exmoor’s Wicked Wolf Gin and Quantock Brewery.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Sarah Newton, said: “We want to see one million more disabled people in work by 2027, and it’s crucial that the hospitality industry is not missing out on the skills, talents and personal qualities disabled people can bring to the workplace.

“This event goes to show that there is a huge pool of talent out there, and I urge all employers across the industry and beyond to help ensure the opportunities are there for everyone to reach their full potential.”