Martin White - NPTC Group of Colleges
“I will always strive to uphold the motto ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, as everybody comes with a rich tapestry of experiences and stories to tell. The most important thing for me as a tutor was that they all felt welcome and respected regardless of their background or prior learning experiences. In the time I have taken on these sessions I have learnt so much. You need to be able to adapt and be prepared to change your delivery style to suit the person in front of you. Learning to me is another way of exercising and keeping your mind fresh and working.”
Martin White is the Refectories Manager for NPTC Group of Colleges, leading on the catering services across all campus sites. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, he currently leads a team of 30 in his department at the college.
Demonstrating his passion for empowering his team, Martin obtained certifications from Highfield and RSPH to become a qualified food hygiene trainer. This allows him to deliver essential training directly to his team, ensuring their skills are up to date.
Martin was presented with an exciting opportunity to deliver a practical cookery session including a Food Hygiene level 1 qualification, tailored to meet the needs of the learners as part of the Community Focused Schools in Powys. The project was funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), and aims to encourage and support families to undertake new learning and develop new skills for employment.
Martin focusses on creating a welcoming and respectful environment for learners from various backgrounds, abilities, and all walks of life, as many of his learners were apprehensive about working towards a qualification due to limited or negative past experiences. He fosters a safe space for them to build rapport, work collaboratively, and share their experiences.
This project proved to be a success, with learners gaining confidence, enrolling in new courses, applying for jobs, and even establishing after-school activities.
