How to start a cookery class business

[FoodEve]

Hello all,

I've joined this forum I'd like to start a business running cookery classes and I need someone to talk through the idea with and to grasp the steps I need to take to test it's feasibility.

I have been in touch with the Prince's Trust, but they need me to find a venue before they can offer any assistance with business planning, however I keep thinking there's other research I should be doing first before looking for a venue.

The basis of my idea is to run a range of classes on Saturday mornings in schools, as they have rooms already equipped to teach cooking. I'd like to start off with one school in one part of my city and then potentially roll it out to other areas.

I'm new to business and am struggling to get enough clarity on the idea to form a plan, which is what brings me here.

Is there anywhere I can go/someone to speak to that can help me figure out how to start this?

Has anyone any experience in hiring rooms from schools (the two I've contacted so far have said they're not in a position to help at the minute), that can give me some pointers?

Would anyone be willing to pick my brain to get me thinking about what needs to be done to fully evaluate this idea as I'm at a loss as to how to proceed?

I understand I'm asking for a lot on my first visit, but any discussion at all will be sincerely appreciated.

 

[GraemeL]

I understand I'm asking for a lot on my first visit, but any discussion at all will be sincerely appreciated.

Hello Foodeve. The idea of using school kitchens could be a good one. But I would be doubtful it would work, because of 'regulations'.

Even while Chairman of our school PTA, I could not get permission for the PTA to do anything in the school kitchen. Health and Safety, Hygiene training, risk assessments, you name it. I think we ended up being allowed to boil water.

More recently, the kitchen of the school that we are involved in has ovens, oh yes. Ovens that are no bigger than a TV and sit on a worktop.

Other thoughts - assuming you could get access to school kitchens:-


I have never been to a cookery class. Do the students sit and watch (So you would need seating area, seats, good vision etc) or need their own workplace (So you would need enough workplaces and equipment)

You would need some sort of approval to run a business from a school kitchen. (Sorry dont know what)

Would the pots and pans be yours?

G

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Graeme raises some good points.
I would add that perhaps you should investigate the costs and implications of Public Liability Insurance before you go any further.

 

[FoodEve]

That's a really interesting insight Graeme - thank you! It was the 'regulations' that were concerning me.

In an ideal world, I'd be running the classes from a home kitchen environment as I'd like the classes to be more about preparing home cooked meals like those that would traditionally be taught by mothers or grandmothers (but seems to be happening less nowadays) than creating a 'chef experience' day but I'm a long way off having a suitable kitchen.

The classes would be less of a demonstration and more about cooking together, therefore it was actually food technology classrooms I was thinking about hiring rather than the school's kitchen as they provide ready made work stations for this purpose. But, I can imagine the same restrictions would apply.

I'm assuming I'd need to supply utensils and equipment, but of course it would be beneficial if these were included in a hire price it would keep my initial outlay down.


Thank you vvaannmmaann, you also raise a good point. I wasn't sure when I should look into the insurances.

 

[sla3]

Perhaps look at how people who already do this sort of thing operate? See what you can gather from looking at their brochures or websites.

[sarcasm]It was ridiculous to expect schools which are so short of money (apparently) to welcome any suggestion that they use their taxpayer funded dormant facilities as a source of income! It might have meant having the caretaker work weekends, or the 'management' adopt some real world operating practices[/sarcasm]

More seriously, using the school kitchens (as in the ones used to produce school dinners) might be difficult for genuine reasons, even if not impossible. Looking at a 'tech college' which has teaching facilities might be a better option. they are also more likely to welcome the revenue-generating opportunity.

I wish you all the best: I am sickened watching more and more shelf space in my local Asda being taken up by ready meals (pre-cooked mashed potato anyone?) and the non-committal decrease in shelf space for raw ingredients.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

How about talking to your local college about running evening courses once a week using there facilities and then progress it from there, most colleges run a large selection of courses out of hours and if they get a good attendance consider running full time

Schools are not set up for this type of operation where as colleges are and you can learn to teach whilst you run the course

 

[businessfunding]

Accepting that graemel (and others) have an entirely valid point, it is worth pointing out that may private schools are run as charities and as part of their charitable status they have to illustrate that they are doing something for the community outside normal teaching activities.

They also seem less hung up on regulation than the State sector, so might be worth investigating.

 

[GraemeL]

In an ideal world, I'd be running the classes from a home kitchen environment as I'd like the classes to be more about preparing home cooked meals like those that would traditionally be taught by mothers or grandmothers (but seems to be happening less nowadays) than creating a 'chef experience' day but I'm a long way off having a suitable kitchen.

The classes would be less of a demonstration and more about cooking together, therefore it was actually food technology classrooms I was thinking about hiring rather than the school's kitchen as they provide ready made work stations for this purpose. .

Leftfield - what about kitchen showrooms? From the small specialist to the B&Q type? May be a way to get started. They may well have lists of potential and existing customers who could be interested in a 'demo'. In a way its like a wine shop having tasting sessions, but more sober.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Have a look at these people.
http://www.kiddycook.co.uk/

 

[Zara Accountancy]

Here in Sunny Yorkshire we had the effervescent Jamie Oliver set up a cooking centre. Check out their website and get in touch with them, maybe they can give advice?

http://www.jamieoliver.com/jamies-ministry-of-food/rotherham.php

I would also contact local colleges, maybe they would allow you to use their premises.

 

[FoodEve]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

Perhaps it's my naiveté, but I did assume that schools would welcome ways of generating more income and it would be the regulations that would create stumbling blocks, but I've yet to get that far in discussions with the schools I've contacted - which is only two.

I've targeted Academies as I thought they'd be more 'business-minded', and the private schools in the locations I were considering are primary schools so I didn't think they'd have the appropriate classrooms but maybe I could use their kitchens.

We do have a food/chef college nearby which was my initial choice of venue but after more thought, I decided it might lead people to think the classes were for professional training rather than home cooking. I guess the right marketing could overcome that though.

I love the idea of the kitchen showrooms and this is definitely something I'll look into further - thank you!

And vvaannmmaann, I've had a quick look at that link you posted and it looks to be the concept I am wanting to develop - but for adults. I'm going to study that site for ideas, thank you.

Lastly, please accept my apologies if I'm rambling in these posts, part of me thinks this would make a viable and profitable business whilst the other part of me is wondering whether it's just a romantic idea i have.

 

[megamuel]

Even if you were allowed to do these classes in schools I doubt you'd be able to make much money from it. I mean you can't ask kids for £10 a lesson or whatever. How about night classes at college or something? Or classes in village halls and get the villages to advertise them in their news letters.

Make sure you film the lessons too, then you can put them on YouTube and if they are good you could become a YouTube partner and make some extra money that way. Or start a blog and make some extra money from advertising and selling products.

You could also buy some wholesale cooking equipment. Use that for your lessons then offer it for sale for a 'discounted rate' at the end of the session.

Good luck anyway. I love cooking - did a nice dish the other day - Feather blade of beef braised in red wine for about 3 hours. Saw it on the hairy bikers. It was delicious!!!!

Sam.

 

[FoodEve]

Here in Sunny Yorkshire we had the effervescent Jamie Oliver set up a cooking centre. Check out their website and get in touch with them, maybe they can give advice?

I would also contact local colleges, maybe they would allow you to use their premises.

Yes, I've looked into Jamie Oliver's cookery schools and the scale he is operating on would be a long term goal, however it has just given me the idea of using empty premises as a 'pop-up cookery school', so another avenue to explore. Thank you!

 

[megamuel]

You could also do a home cooked food delivery service. Cook a few big one pot dishes and then take orders for delivery in your local area. Either serve it hot with a hot plate thing in your car or deliver in a little microwaveable box. Or you could go and cook for people in their houses - bring the restaurant experience into their own homes! Just thinking aloud!

 

[FoodEve]

Thanks for your suggestions Megamuel, selling merchandise and a blog are definitely part of the plan.

It's actually adults that would be attending the classes, I was only considering schools as a venue as they already have rooms equipped for cookery lessons.