Great Cornish Food Academy Marks First Year with Thousands Engaged Across Cornwall

3,000+ students. Dozens of businesses. One bold mission in Truro.

The Great Cornish Food Academy, based at the Great Cornish Food Store in Truro, is celebrating its first full year of operations, having reached thousands of people across Cornwall with hands-on experiences in food, farming, fishing and drink.

Established last summer (2024), the academy set out to bust the myth that food and farming jobs were a poor career choice. One year on, it has given over 3,000 students an insight into the fishing industry, provided food and farming skills to 100 more, supported 70 businesses, and delivered training to 130 people working in the sector.

📷Penair School students on their visit to Nancarrow Fa

A focus on careers, skills and real-life experience

The academy works with schools and colleges across all ages, including primary pupils, teenagers taking early career steps, and adults thinking about a change in direction.

Emma Pate, Learning and Skills Manager, said:
“We’ve set out to showcase the brilliant variety of opportunities and earnings potential across the agrifood sector and it has been a busy and successful first year.
“We’re providing opportunities for older people considering a career change or simply curious to know more about working in food.
“And we’re giving more businesses access to the knowledge, skills, ideas and confidence to take things up a notch.”

Among the academy’s activities, 28 Year 9 students from Penair School and 12 hospitality students from Truro College visited Nancarrow Farm to hone their knowledge in butchery, horticulture and cookery, and to better understand the modern food system in an agricultural setting.

📷Penair School students on their visit to Nancarrow Fa

Opening doors for young people with learning disabilities

The academy has also partnered with Work Your Way, a programme for young people aged 16 to 24 with learning disabilities. As part of the partnership, eight students were invited to Baker Tom’s bakery, where they explored the production areas, met staff, and observed the baking process. Some had never seen a food production environment before.

Following the visit, Baker Tom Ltd offered work experience taster days to the students.

Thomas Hazzledine, Founder of Baker Tom Ltd, said:
“We were delighted to welcome the ‘Work your Way’ group into the bakery and provide them with a taste of life at Baker Toms. It was great to be able to give back and help inspire some future bakers, we are always happy to support such great initiatives.”

📷Penair School students on their visit to Nancarrow Fa

Linking schools, business and the sea

The academy also took part in career events supported by the Cornish Fish Producers’ Association and the Young Fishermen’s Network, giving students direct access to industry experts and career opportunities in the fishing world.

Through its Building Better Business programme, the academy has worked closely with freelance professionals to deliver tailored mentoring and skills support to businesses that don’t usually have easy access to this kind of help.

A successful event brought together growers and chefs, supporting eight local businesses to explore new markets. And during the Scilly Comes To Cornwall event, the academy delivered webinars to help seven food and drink producers from the Isles of Scilly prepare their products for sale on the mainland.

📷Work Your Way students visit Baker Tom’s bakery.

Looking ahead

Emma said the academy will keep its focus on making food and drink a positive career choice in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“By developing learning and skills we are building a talent pipeline for the sector.
“Connecting industry with schools and education providers enables us to offer a whole range of valuable training and ‘have a go’ opportunities.
“We feel we have really upped the ante in this regard and are the first organisation that has been able to do this in Cornwall for many years. We are aiming to create a sea-change in the way people of all ages learn about food and without this the industry will really struggle.”

📷Work Your Way students visit Baker Tom’s bakery.