:

  • VisitScotland
  • Business Events
  • Travel Trade
  • Toolkit
  • Corporate
  • VisitScotland
  • Business Events
  • Travel Trade
  • Toolkit
  • Corporate
  • Plan your event
  • Why Scotland
  • Resources & support
  • News
  1. Home
  2. Empowering people through food and community

Empowering people through food and community

Theresa Steven, Corporate & Incentives ·February 16, 20234 minutes

The Larder, a social enterprise in West Lothian, aims to eliminate poverty and ensure everyone can achieve their full potential, advocating for food as a legal right in Scotland.

The Larder Staff Team 2021

© The Larder

The Larder

We spoke with Angela Moohan, Founder and CEO, The Larder, about her experiences and the impact of the organisation.

“

We were passionate about using food to engage and support disadvantaged young people. We began by offering free cookery courses to build skills and employability in the hospitality sector.

Mission and Beginnings

Before starting The Larder, I worked for another social enterprise that helped move people off state benefits and into work through volunteering. When that enterprise closed, I didn't want to lose the momentum we had achieved. So, with some colleagues, I started The Larder in 2010, a time when youth unemployment in West Lothian was at 21%, the third highest in Scotland.  

We were passionate about using food to engage and support disadvantaged young people. We began by offering free cookery courses to build skills and employability in the hospitality sector. By 2014, we had established a training kitchen and offered courses in professional cookery, food hygiene, and health and safety to provide the best platform for employment.

Progressions Coordinator Heather Reid with Students in Training

© The Larder

Challenges Faced 

Covid and Brexit significantly impacted our sector. The biggest challenge has been attracting and hiring skilled staff. Since 2020, unemployment has risen dramatically, with over 3,000 people becoming economically inactive for various reasons. Younger people are facing mental health issues and lack confidence in seeking employment, while older generations struggle with new technologies in the workplace.  

As an industry, we need to address these issues collaboratively. We should employ and train individuals with additional support needs, creating a more compassionate society where everyone has ample employment opportunities. I believe that if more employers took this chance, they would find their workforce more reliable and committed. 

“

We are keen to work with employers willing to grow their own talent, and we can support them in this. 

Collaboration with Employers 

We invite employers to come to The Larder and talk to young people about their business, helping them understand real-life working environments. We also organise site visits so people can experience a working day in hospitality. We are keen to work with employers willing to grow their own talent, and we can support them in this.  

We've built excellent relationships with smaller hotels in West Lothian and are exploring opportunities for young people to enter the workforce. Notable collaborations include Compass Catering, SITE, Toby Carvery, Dalmahoy Hotel, and APEX Hotels. For example, Dalmahoy Hotel employed one of our trainees on the autism spectrum. When they realised they needed additional guidance to support this trainee, they reached out to us for a tailored training programme. 

Angela Moohan, CEO, The Larder

© The Larder

Event Planning and Catering 

Event planners can also support The Larder by volunteering, fundraising or choosing us as their charity of the year. We offer catering services for various events, from small meetings to large exhibitions. In 2018, we catered for The World Social Enterprise Forum in Edinburgh, giving young people valuable experience. We currently cater for Edinburgh Airport and local corporate events, from small family gatherings to corporate events with over 200 attendees.

“

Everyone has the right to eat good food, and we will continue to campaign for this.

Future Plans

We recently launched an independent artisan bakery in Livingston, aiming to create more local employment opportunities. We are also dedicated to campaigning for food to be recognised as a human right in Scots Law. Everyone has the right to eat good food, and we will continue to campaign for this. 

For more information, visit The Larder.

Other things you might like

:

Five minutes with Mercat Tours

:

International Delegates Day

:

The Green Team

:

Reducing emissions at Cairngorms National Park

:

Making a difference in Scotland’s communities

Newsletter Sign up

Subscribe here to our newsletter for updates, articles and insights from across the Scottish business events sector.
Sign up Now

About us

  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Cookie Policy

Our other sites

  • VisitScotland for Business
  • VisitScotland for Leisure
  • Scotland.org

Find us on

Find us on

Brand Scotland

© 2024 VisitScotland. All rights reserved.