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BM Caterers has launched a new partnership with social enterprise Luminary Bakery and its sister charity, Luminary Limited.
Luminary’s charity runs a two-year employability programme, including six months of initial baking training, for women who have experienced disadvantage and gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, or trafficking, and may have no prior employment experience.
While some trainees may become bakers, the primary goal of the charity is to prepare women for broader employment opportunities, with the Bakery providing placements that help trainees transition into work.
As part of this collaboration, BM Caterers will offer Luminary trainees work placements across its sites over a four-week period. As part of Luminary’s existing programme, trainees also complete a work experience day at Luminary and can apply to join Luminary’s café or bakery apprenticeship programme.
The company will also provide Luminary trainees with training through its Perkee Coffee Academy. This will include barista skills training tailored to each trainee’s location to support their skill development.
Training begins with a foundation course covering ‘bean to cup’ knowledge and basic coffee-making skills. Trainees will then move on to mastering milk frothing, pouring milk drinks, and creating latte art.
Those interested in further development will have the opportunity to undertake two additional days of Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) aligned intermediate skills training.
BM Caterers aims to offer long-term employment opportunities for Luminary graduates and is also considering offering future classes on coffee roasting.
As part of this partnership, BM will also feature Luminary Bakery products in several of its coffee shops. Already, two client sites have started selling Luminary’s pastries, cakes, and bakes, leading to a 327 per cent increase in weekly sales, a 59 per cent boost in the number of pastries sold, and a 105 per cent rise in average pastry spend.
Additional client sites are planned, and to meet this growing demand, Luminary Bakery has hired new staff and is preparing to scale up its operations further. This expansion includes the opening of a new kitchen, which will allow the bakery to handle the increase in orders more efficiently.
Angus Brydon, Managing Director, BM Caterers, said: “We are delighted to partner with Luminary. The work they do is truly inspiring, providing incredible opportunities to women in challenging circumstances.”
