STUDENTS from Accrington & Rossendale College have taken over catering duties at one of East Lancashire’s most successful businesses.

The college has launched a partnership with bailiff firm Rossendales, which will see its hospitality and catering students get a taste of work at the enforcement and debt-collection agency’s Helmshore headquarters.

The unique project will involve two apprentices working at Rossendales’ catering facility full-time, in addition to students working at the business throughout their college course.

The college consulted with Rossendales to ensure the menu on offer will suit the needs of its 180 staff, with a large emphasis being put on fresh, healthy and nutritious options.

Liz Duncan, head of hospitality and catering at Accrington & Rossendale College, said: “Rossendales believe strongly in supporting the community and this innovative project gives our students a great opportunity to run their own large-scale catering facility.

“In addition, our learners will gain invaluable commercial work-experience.

“They will have to work at the pace of real chefs and deal with real customers and that can only strengthen their claims for employment when they graduate and begin looking for a job.”

Some of the food will be prepared at the college’s facility at the Globe Centre, while some will be prepared on site at Rossendales.

Julie Green-Jones, chairman of Rossendales, said: “We’ve always had a commitment to good, high quality training and the apprentices and students from the college will get the practical experience they need for their CVs.

“This is a solid way for Rossendales to make a contribution to the workforce of the future, which will be vital for all businesses.”

An architecture graduate, Sam Gilding from Leeds Metropolitan University, has also worked to revamp the canteen.

Since 2007 Rossendales’ local and central government work has grown by 55 per cent and its private sector jobs are up by 412 per cent. It collects more than £92million of debt on behalf of clients.