The eight-week course is accredited by the Specialty Coffee Association, with each graduate gaining a professional barista qualification plus Level 2 in both customer service and food safety.
Their achievements were celebrated at a graduation ceremony in London that saw the graduates showcase their learnings through the brewing and serving of coffee as well as sharing their personal journeys.
Rob Fredrickson, managing director of Company of Cooks, said: “Heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates. They’ve shown incredible verve and determination, which has seen them develop professionally into talented, qualified baristas and personally as exceptional people with infinite potential.
“Our partnership with Well Grounded started in 2017 and underpins our commitment to the communities we work in and with, and to championing the hospitality industry as an exciting and rewarding career opportunity, attracting new talent and making a positive difference.
“We’re very proud to now have trained and enabled 68 brilliant baristas to work with us in our cafés and coffee shops across London, and I speak on behalf of my fellow MDs in Gather & Gather and Vacherin when I say we’re excited to welcome the latest cohort into our family and see where their careers take them.”
Well Grounded is a social enterprise that provides accredited coffee training programmes, work placements and ongoing support to Londoners facing social and economic barriers to employment. Since conception in 2016, it has supported over 320 people into work, with 83% sustaining work for over six months.
Eve Wagg, founder and chief executive of Well Grounded, added: “It is about developing a new, exciting, diverse talent pipeline for the coffee industry but most of all it’s about empowerment. To empower each of us to grow and fulfil our potential - I believe everyone who is touched by this partnership is changed and today is a sign of how it impacts so many lives.”