By Denis Sheehan FIH:
The Crumbs Project’s Annual Awards lunch 2025 was not only a joy to attend and be part of it also produced The Kitchen Porters Club Kitchen Porters of the Month for April, James Read and Paul Tidey.
The awards lunch event saw trainees awarded for their progress achievements across The Crumbs Project curricula.
The trainees received awards for completing the Crumbs foundation programme and individual units in food production, bakery, housekeeping, and digital skills. Trainees also earned Crumbs certificates for excellent performance, most improved trainee, timekeeping, positive attitude, as well as many other notable accomplishments.
There were also two awards for Kitchen Porter of the year, and I was afforded the privilege of handing these out. The two winners are now also officially recognised as The Kitchen Porters Club Kitchen Porter of the Month award for April.
Paul Anderson, Managing Director of Meiko UK and head of the Kitchen Porter of the Month judging panel, reflected on April’s winners telling us: “Throughout the year reviewing the entries for the Kitchen Porters Club Kitchen Porter of the Month competition is always a pleasure, and announcing the awards even more so. We are delighted when we see kitchen porters and their colleagues celebrating on social media, as we love to welcome new members and see them wearing the official Kitchen Porters Club aprons so proudly.
“I therefore welcome James Read and Paul Tidey as our April Kitchen Porters of the Month and look forward to seeing them in their official Kitchen Porters Club aprons.”
If you would like to nominate your kitchen porter, it only takes a minute or two by completing the form at the bottom of this page.
All winners are announced similarly to the above and receive an official Kitchen Porters Club apron.
Showing appreciation in this way not only honours the hard work of kitchen porters but also strengthens the spirit of teamwork and recognition within the industry.
