Howell Cummings | Kitchen Planning & Design | Commercial Catering Equipment Supply

Gateshead College has appointed Spennymoor-based Howell Cummings to supply and install the training and commercial kitchens at its new £37m Baltic Campus. The
£330k investment is just a small part of what will make the landmark building a world-class learning environment. From January 2008, the college's catering students will be able to cook up a range of treats in
250sq m of work space, representing an investment of £150k. Incorporating state of the art equipment, the purpose built kitchens will feature stainless steel worktops, white rock walls and specialist hygienic flooring.
The area will include a training kitchen and a separate production kitchen catering for a small bistro, which will be open to members of the public. Up to 10 students will be able to work in the production kitchen and 12 in the training kitchen at one time. Over £180k has been invested in the 225 sq m refectory and kitchen, which has been designed to cater for 200 covers.The innovative campus will also feature a spa and beauty suite; music recording and video studios
with rehearsal rooms; fitness, weights and dance studios; craft and design workshops; as well as a large atrium, art exhibition spaces and serene gardens.
Steve Collingwood, Gateshead College facilities manager, was a key part of the appointment process. He said: "The training areas will include all the latest equipment, allowing our students to learn in industry standard kitchens without the pressure of a commercial environment. However,
when they are ready to take on this challenge we can offer students the unique opportunity to work in the bistro for paying customers."
Howell-Cummings was set up in 2003 and supplies and installs catering equipment in hospitals,
schools, offices, football stadiums, hotels and restaurants.

Director Tom Cummings commented: "It has been a pleasure to work with Gateshead College on this project. The kitchens will boast the most up-to-date facilities and will look and operate as professionally as the best commercial kitchens. This is just the latest in a long line of contract wins for Howell Cummings and we are confident that the company has a very successful future ahead of it."