ESS, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has supported Mackie Academy’s Snacky Mackie initiative for a third consecutive year. Members of the company’s management and culinary teams helped the school’s students to design and market a tasty snack as part of the S1 students’ health and wellbeing (HWB) classes.
Tasked with developing a recipe in addition to branding and marketing for their product, participants then presented their concepts and reasons for selecting particular ingredients to their peers and a team of ESS senior managers and culinary leads for judging.
The winning recipe from the latest cohort was the ‘Beet Bomb’ beetroot brownie, with previous winners including ‘No-Bake Peanut Oaties’, ‘Banana Bites’ and a ‘Dark Chocolate and Berry Bake’. These are subsequently prepared by chefs from the ESS Energy business and served to customers within the company’s on and offshore contracts, including at Aberdeen International Airport.
Students Benjamin and Nathan said: ‘We were nervous to present, but it was nice to work as a team. This was the first project we have done. We want to keep creating stuff as we find it fun.’
Students Rosie, Brooke, Suzy, and Georgia added: ‘It was interesting learning about different micronutrients: ‘We liked like the bright colours of our logo and doing the research, and we are proud of our final product. It was so cool to win!’
PE teacher, Niamh McGlynn, commented: ‘Health class really suits being delivered through project-based learning and the pupils have been so motivated to do well. Even though only one group could win, they’ve stayed engaged as they’ve remained part of the process and developed teamwork, communication, and leadership.’
Ronnie Kelman, Managing Director – ESS Energy, Government & Infrastructure commented: ‘I attended Mackie Academy, my children went to the school and we’re local to the area, so it’s great to have this partnership.
We’re delighted to be encouraging young people to think about the importance of the food they eat and giving them an insight into working in the hospitality industry. I look forward to further opportunities for collaboration.
Pictured (L-R) above are the winners with Ronnie Kelman of ESS, Phoebe Lawson, ESS chef; Miss Wilson, HE teacher; Graham Singer, ESS; Lindsay Prior, ESS; Jenni Lawson, ESS; and Mr Ramsay, Mackie Academy’s PE head teacher.