Hilton Foods Seachill Invests £100k Into Local Culinary Education 

Hilton Foods Seachill and the TEC Partnership signed a sponsorship agreement which sees Hilton investing £100,000 over two years to support education and training at the UK Seafood School, based at TEC Partnership’s Grimsby Institute campus. 

In 2024, the Grimsby Institute launched the UK Seafood School. This dedicated provision, jointly funded by DEFRA and the TEC Partnership, is a modern seafood training facility. The school will provide outstanding amenities and resources for students to develop their seafood knowledge and skills, which will support their career and development. 

Pledging £100,000 over two years, Hilton Seachill’s sponsorship will support essential upskilling and training in the region. The investment will fund access to the seafood industry, granting students opportunities for residential trips and hands-on experience at local and national businesses. The sponsorship will also enable bursary support for new equipment and professional uniforms, giving students a taste of what to expect from the hospitality sector.  

Student chefs at the Grimsby Institute provide a service to The Samphire restaurant (formerly known as The Gallery), which is an onsite training restaurant open to the public. This facility will also benefit from Hilton Seachill’s sponsorship to help develop the students’ understanding and knowledge of the of the sector, and Hilton’s sponsorship will also ensure the continued development of industry standard skills.  

Ann Hardy, CEO of the TEC Partnership, said:  

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Hilton Foods Seachill, who have previously sponsored our National Seafood Chef of the Year Competition, hosted here at the Grimsby Institute.  

“This partnership between education and industry is vital to shaping the training and development of young people. It helps change their lives by showing them the possibilities of careers in the seafood sector. I know that our current and future students will realise the enormous benefits that this partnership brings.”  

Chris Hayes, Managing Director of Hilton Foods Seachill, added:  

“Both Hilton Foods Seachill and the Grimsby Institute focus on quality, innovation, and inspiration. We saw it as a truly collaborative partnership, producing talented people who are passionate about seafood as a healthy, sustainable protein, to join exciting careers in industry and hospitality. 

“We wanted to have input into the education, training, and facilities needed to develop pathways into the seafood industry. The sector needs all kinds of support, including production, engineering, procurement, people & culture, and creative roles in product development and marketing. We’re excited to help inspire new curriculum areas within the Grimsby Institute to open career opportunities across the sector. 

“This is an investment in Grimsby as a centre of excellence in seafood. We want to inspire people to come and work in the industry, whether with us, our customers, or in the wider community that supports seafood, because it’s such an amazing industry to have a career in.” 

The Grimsby Institute provides courses for budding chefs and those interested in front-of-house service. The curriculum covers all areas of hospitality, from food hygiene and preparation to table service and restaurant bookings. This partnership will help to further inspire students and develop new pathways for them into the wider seafood industry.