Our Journey to the Conservative Party Conference

Kajans Women's Enterprise, a Futurebuilders investee, talk about their new venture The Caribbean Catering Academy and describe their first time at the Conservative Party Conference.

On Friday 2 September the Prime Minister’s office announced that the Caribbean Catering Academy based in Aston, Birmingham was one of 9 entrepreneurial initiatives to win a place at the Start-Up Hub taking place at the 128th Conservative Party Conference in October 2011.  The Academy was selected from a nationwide competition to exhibit and showcase, based on its mission to ‘deliver the skills associated with the production, distribution and service of authentic Caribbean cuisine’. 

The Academy is the brainchild of Kajans Women’s Enterprise Ltd, a Birmingham based social enterprise with over 15 years experience of providing opportunities in Aston, one of Britain’s most deprived wards.   

The Academy aims to provide opportunities for employment in the food industry by training young people, age 16-19, as well as offering accreditation for established caterers through work-based assessments. Working with established training partners the Academy aims to create concessionary opportunities for individual entrepreneurs wishing to establish SME’s in Caribbean catering in our city. Accreditation for all our courses will be provided by the University College Birmingham using a range of certification bodies.

The opportunity of the Start-up Hub exhibition space enabled us to unveil a video of our launch dinner where city councillors and dignitaries across the city were in attendance.  Our launch was championed by our Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council.  He has endorsed the Academy’s ambitions and proved to be our monumental supporter. 

Indeed, Mike visited our stand and that of our fellow Birmingham finalist Our stand drew a large amount of attention due partly to the Academy’s initiative and partly to, we believe, the Caribbean patties, rum cake and Blue Mountain Coffee  we’re still wondering which was the real draw!  That being said the conference gave us a great platform from which to make several leads who we will be contacting shortly.

Having never been to any party conference previously the Academy thoroughly enjoyed the experience, took on board the generous advice and now hope that we can receive the support to help us establish the longevity of the Academy.  Our favourite advice of the Conference: START-UP, STAND-UP, STAY-UP!