The Cookery School And Kitchen, CIC

Activities and Impact During the YE2025, The Cookery School and Kitchen, CIC has continued to deliver high quality and bespoke catering events to its ever-increasing clients in Bristol. Our focus remains on creating outstanding event catering which respect planet, people and our local community. During this year we have had to move into temporary premise as Filwood Community Centre where we are based is closed for a huge and exciting refurbishment project. Financed by the previous governments ‘Levelling Up Fund, this redevelopment will support the local community and residents to feel proud of where they live and in turn we believe will have a positive impact on The Cookery School and Kitchen, CIC. Although this has caused some minor disruption to our service, our new home is just a stone’s throw away and has a shop front location which has supported our ambition to become more embedded in our hyper local community. Towards the end of YE2025, we started this type of outreach work by providing a hot, nutritious and affordable meal to local residents and business directly from our catering kitchen. An area of growth we are most proud of is our increased opportunities for skills development, progression and paid employment for young people in Bristol. Many of the graduates from Square Food Foundation’s (our partner charity) How To Be A Chef programme join our team as paid prep chefs and/or service staff, contributing to our wider mission of improving access to food skills, employment and food education. We are also delighted to be having conversations with Bristol City Councils Youth Guarantee Scheme about providing impactful and meaningful placements for young people who they are working with. Financial and Operational Development For YE2025, our turnover increased compared to the prior year, reflecting a growth in catering activity and event delivery. Operating surplus reduced as a result of planned investment in staffing, professional support and operational infrastructure. The directors considered this expenditure necessary to strengthen the long‑term viability and resilience of The Cookery School and Kitchen and to support sustainable growth in future periods. Although this impacted short‑term profitability, the directors were satisfied that the company remained financially stable throughout the year, with appropriate controls in place and no immediate threat to solvency or cashflow. Benefit to the Community As mentioned above, The Cookery School and Kitchen, CIC has increased the number of work experience and paid work opportunities in the YE2025. We are especially focused on support young people from our local community which we see as an important area for growth and community development. The Cookery School and Kitchen, CIC have been working closely with Square Food Foundation, our partner charity, to grow and develop our communication and messaging around the positive impact that food education can have as a tool to fight food insecurity. Creating clearer and more impactful messaging supports The Cookery School and Kitchen, CIC to promote the value of using our services by demonstrating how we support young people as well as raising vital funds for Square Food Foundation’s food education work. Developments in the area of comms and messaging include new visual identity, website and brand guidelines. All of which will strengthen our position as the top choice ethical event and catering provider in Bristol. Furthermore, we have increased our marketing and outreach by collaborating with Square Food Foundation on several events, including having a 3 days presence at the Feast On Festival in Bristol. This opportunity saw The Cooking School and Kitchen, CIC and Square Food Foundation share an area at the festival, selling food and marketing our services as well as sharing knowledge about out the impact of meaningful food education. The directors consider that the balance between trading activity and social purpose was appropriately maintained throughout the year and that decisions taken during the period were consistent with the company’s community interest objectives. Investment made during the year is expected to enhance the company’s ability to increase its positive social impact in future year.