Launched in 2019, The Burnt Chef Project has been a driving force in eradicating the stigma around mental health in the hospitality industry. Now, leading global equipment manufacturer, Unox has placed its support behind the cause by becoming the charity’s first Equipment Supply Partner.

Research shows that as many as four in five hospitality professionals have experienced mental health difficulties in their career, yet almost half (46%) would not feel comfortable talking about it with their colleagues. The Burnt Chef Project is a not-for-profit social enterprise that helps to raise awareness, provides support and delivers tailored educational programmes to those across the industry.

Becoming the charity’s first Equipment Supply Partner, Unox is committed to supporting the work of The Burnt Chef Project through commercial fundraising, driving awareness, and hosting events. This includes the provision of dedicated event space, complete with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology which can be used for virtual training sessions.

Highlighting the importance of the partnership, Scott Duncan, Managing Director at Unox UK comments:

“Working in the foodservice and hospitality industry can be highly rewarding, but also notoriously tough – something that can have a significant impact on the mental health of operators and those in the wider supply chain.

At Unox, we are committed to supporting our customers, colleagues and our team, by raising awareness of the challenges and helping to remove the stigma around mental health issues. We are immensely proud to become the first Equipment Supply Partner of The Burnt Chef Project and we are looking forward to working with Kris and the team both here in the UK and through our global Unox team around the world. Supporting the partnership, we are delighted that our Unox Head Office team in Italy has agreed to match our UK fundraising total in the next year.”

Over the coming months and into 2023, Unox UK has committed to initially fund 285 licences to The Burnt Chef Project’s Thrive Mental Wellbeing app, a total of more than £10,000. The app, which is trusted by the NHS, is available in nine languages and features 24/7 support, a confidential in-app chat function with a trained therapist and the ability for users to track their feelings. The app also contains a complete library of wellbeing training, webinars and sessions which can be accessed at any time.

Going forward, Unox UK is planning a calendar of events, challenges and fundraising initiatives to support the work of the charity. On the announcement of Unox becoming the first Equipment Supply Partner, Kris Hall, Founder of The Burnt Chef Project adds:

“It’s fantastic to have such a prominent global brand as Unox committing to support The Burnt Chef Project going forward. Raising awareness of mental health challenges in the hospitality industry is crucial, particularly as the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis is having such an impact on so many.

Through Unox’s commitment to fundraising and ongoing support, we will be able to offer even more free, confidential support to even more people. This includes 250 licences to our bespoke Mental Wellbeing App, something that’s trusted by the NHS, blue light services and local authorities. We look forward to working with Unox in the UK and around the world.”

Further information about Unox’s fundraising events, activities and opportunities for others across the supply to get involved in supporting The Burnt Chef Project will be announced in due course. To find out more about The Burnt Chef Project please visit www.theburntchefproject.com. To access free, confidential support 24 hours a day, text BURNTCHEF to 85258 (UK) or HOME to 741741 (USA and Canada).