Cirencester's Steppes Travel sponsors young people initiative

Published by

Nicky Godding

Leading Cirencester-based tour operator Steppes Travel is sponsoring The Long Table, a major Stroud based initiative dedicated to creating opportunities for young people by bringing the community together though a shared love of food and good company.

This sponsorship will allow the relaunch of the Teenage Kitchen, an apprenticeship scheme focused on teaching young people the art of cooking. This initiative will provide valuable experience and education for the participants, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for a fulfilling career in catering. The Long Table is seeking to expand its operations to Cirencester in 2024.

You can read a long interview with Justin Wateridge, the managing director at Steppes Travel, in the latest issue of The Business Magazine – South West & West Midlands edition

Steppes Travel, a certified B Corporation, aims to create unforgettable travel experiences for its clients but it is also determined to help make a positive impact on the communities it touches, domestically and overseas. Support for the Long Table forms part of the company’s continuing drive to back local events and initiatives which bring people together and sits alongside its sponsorship of Chalfest 2024.

Justin Wateridge (MD Steppes Travel) said: "We’re delighted to support The Long Table in their mission; we believe in the transformative power of combining responsibility and sustainability in everything we do, and this apprenticeship scheme perfectly embodies those values. Having The Long Table right on our doorstep is a privilege. We can see how much of a positive impact they’re having and we’re excited for their expansion into Cirencester this year."

Will North (GM The Long Table) added: "We’re thrilled to bring back The Teenage Kitchen and we’d like to thank the team at Steppes for helping us fulfil our mission to create opportunities for young people in our community, empowering them with skills that will not only enhance their lives but contribute positively to the hospitality industry. Ultimately, connection is forged around the table, so to be able to get more people around the table is fantastic."

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.