Compass Group UK & Ireland named as patrons of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance, powered by Pathway Group, has announced Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest food and support services business, as their latest patron.
Formed in 2017, originally as the ‘BAME’ Apprenticeship Alliance, The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance strives to promote social mobility, diversity, inclusion and equity in apprenticeships through three pillars:
- Educate – organisations on building a diverse workforce
- Engage – with the Multicultural community
- Recruit – support organisations with recruitment diversity
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and Compass Group UK & Ireland plan to work together to further promote social mobility, equality, diversity, inclusion, and equity in apprenticeships.
Jagdeep Soor, Head of Strategic Partnership for the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance said: "It is great to have an organisation with the size, scale and ethos of Compass as patrons of the Alliance. We want to work with organisations who are driven to make a positive difference to marginalised communities and this partnership has the power to have a significant impact."
The CEO of the Pathway Group, Saf Ali, expressed his excitement at the partnership and hopes to work with Compass Group UK & Ireland on other employability programmes to help support more individuals into meaningful employment: “I am delighted to welcome Compass as patrons of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and hope to work with them in our wider employability programmes, to help support more individuals into meaningful employment."
Jonathan Foot, Head of Apprenticeships & Early Careers – Compass Group UK & Ireland: “We are a people powered business and we believe in providing opportunities to develop, progress and thrive. This partnership will further enhance our work in this area, supporting our diverse workforce to reach their potential and attracting people into our organisation from a variety of backgrounds and communities. I am very proud that we are now a patron of the Alliance and look forward to seeing this partnership develop.”
In 2022 Compass’ Dylan Patel was named Apprentice of the Year in the Retail, Hospitality & Tourism category at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, with Bally Purewal Highly Commended in the same category.
Last year, Compass launched ‘Our Social Promise’, an ambition to positively impact one million lives by 2030, from both within and outside the organisation through job creation, education, training, community and charitable engagement. Part of this strategy includes the development of its people, maximising training opportunities from apprenticeships, mentoring, its graduate scheme and internal Career Pathways platform. Compass also works within schools and colleges through its Junior Chef Academy, internships, work experience and T level placements.
Another focus for the organisation has been strengthening and establishing partnerships with supply-chain partners and charities, who work with people experiencing barriers to employment, such as the long-term unemployed and offering Gateway to Employment and Sector Based Work Academies and apprenticeships in prisons.
