Aberfeldy firm Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters has officially kicked off its Coffee Academy for the second year in a row.
The specialist roasters will work with pupils from Breadalbane Academy in the town to provide a pathway for young people in rural Highland Perthshire into the world of coffee and hospitality.
Expanding the portfolio of workshops, the programme will see a group of nine S4 and S5 secondary pupils aged 15 to 16 be coached in Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) training, focusing on coffee and barista skills.
It will also help them gain real-world experience by pairing them with the Coffee Academy partner cafes. They include Cafe Calluna in Pitlochry, Scottish Deli in Dunkeld and Highland Safaris Cafe in Aberfeldy.
Organisers say the first programme last year was a hit, with nine final-year pupils from Breadalbane Academy all successfully completing the course.
For many young people a cafe job is the first working experience and this initiative gives the pupils some vital experience all while gaining life skills, too.
Founded in 2011, Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters has been roasting speciality coffee in the
Scottish Highlands for over a decade. It has been based in Aberfeldy since 2014 and roasts and showcases the finest speciality beans from around the world at its premises just off of Breadalbane Terrace.
What does the Coffee Academy entail?
This year the academy will feature an introduction to the world of coffee from farm to cup at Glen Lyon’s roastery, see the pupils participate in two internationally-recognised courses from the SCA, taught by an SCA-accredited teacher, and also provide the chance to take part in a voluntary work placement at one of the local partner cafes.
A final half day refresher at the roastery to cover all knowledge and skills gained throughout the course will also take place.
Students will leave the programme with their certificate, hands-on experience and a personal reference from Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters and the partner cafe that they work in.
“The initiative was launched last year to help young people navigate the next steps as
they leave school and enter the working world,” said Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters director Jamie Grant.
“Due to its success we are delighted to announce that the project is back for a second year with an expanded programme of workshops and new cafe partners.”
Millie Dingwall, S5 pupil and Niamh MacKinnon, an S4 pupil say they have so far learned about the history of coffee and the well being of producers.
They’ve also had the opportunity to taste lots of different coffees from Glen Lyon and Briony Campbell, Breadalbane Academy principal teacher of home economics, adds that the project has been, and is, a great opportunity for the pupils.
She said: “Our pupils are really excited to be involved in the Coffee Academy partnership with Glen Lyon again this year.
“The programme offers a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to apply and further develop the employability skills they build with us in school in real workplace environments.
“It also creates excellent pathways into the thriving local hospitality industry leaving our pupils better placed to secure employment upon leaving school.”
Conversation