Students from the Novus Restaurant at the College of West Anglia, King’s Lynn campus, had the honour of delivering catering for a special visit by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, during celebrations marking one hundred years of production at the Princes Group’s Wisbech site.
The high-profile event welcomed industry leaders, staff and invited guests, with CWA students ranging from Level 1 to Level 3 training, selected to prepare and serve refreshments as part of the occasion. The opportunity allowed students to apply their skills in a real working environment, supporting a major local employer during a significant milestone in its history.
The menu featured a selection of savoury and sweet dishes, including tuna niçoise tartlets, mackerel pâté with oat biscuit and grapefruit salsa, ham hock terrine, corned beef finger sandwiches and haricot and tomato arancini. Guests were also served sweet items such as peach melba meringue, custard cream and rhubarb truffles, black cherry bakewell and fruit cocktail pate de fruits – all demonstrating the students’ precision, creativity and attention to presentation.
During the visit, the Princess Royal took time to meet one of the students, Phoebe Chamberlain, one of the students involved in the catering team. The moment provided a memorable and inspiring experience, highlighting the value of vocational training and the confidence that students gain through live industry projects.
Aimee Jay, Commercial Hospitality and Tourism Manager, said, “We are incredibly proud of our students who took part in the Princes event. Supporting a royal visit and representing the College of West Anglia at such an important celebration reflects their professionalism, teamwork and dedication. With the College of West Anglia providing opportunities like working in the Novus restaurant on campus, unique real-world experiences like this help prepare them for successful careers in hospitality and catering.”
Adam Burns, Hospitality Lecturer, said, “It was a real privilege for the Hospitality Department to provide the catering for Princes’ 100-year celebration, attended by Princess Anne. This was a high-profile event, and students rose to the challenge brilliantly. Opportunities like this give learners invaluable real-world experience and demonstrate the strong links the College of West Anglia has with local industry and the wider community. We’re extremely proud to have been part of such a significant occasion.”
The event demonstrated the strength of partnerships between education and local employers, giving students meaningful experience while showcasing the high standard of training delivered from the hospitality and catering department at the College.