A Careers Challenge for Schools & Local Authorities
Inspiring Future Talent Through Real‑World Experience
— Fully Mapped to the Gatsby Benchmarks
How do we support careers education in schools?
A dynamic, curriculum-aligned careers experience that brings the world of work directly into schools. Designed to help Careers Leaders meet key Gatsby Benchmarks while offering a high‑impact, memorable challenge for students.
170,000+
Pupils inspired
9.7/10
Average pupil rating
100% of Teachers
Would recommend us
What is The Restaurant Rivals?
Around the world, we’re eating more and more processed foods, and less fresh ingredients, such as vegetables. This means that on average, we're eating more foods that are higher in fats, sugar and salt.
Pupils will join a competitive careers and skills challenge where students form their own restaurant concept — from menu creation and budgeting to customer service, marketing, and leadership, whilst aligning with the Eat Well Guide.
The Restaurant Rivals is a perfect blend of creativity and teamwork to boost employable skills.
The whole experience will have your pupils buzzing about food, the restaurant industry,
whilst practicing key skills for life.
“One of the best workshops we’ve ever booked.
Engaging, easy to organise, and the children loved it!”
Sarah
Headteacher, A Cheshire Primary School
A Highly Effective Workshop
90 Minutes Long
Providing maximum impact and minimal disruption to help your PHSE and careers goals.
Everyone gets involved
The Rivals involves group work and presentations!
Inclusive for all
Even the hardest pupils to crack love The Rivals workshop.
Skills Builder Focused
It's designed for maximum impact for your careers goals.
It covers the top 10 employable skills.
A 90-minute workshop that encompasses:
- teamwork
- presentation skills
- time management skills
- cooking experience
- and lots of fun!
Pupil Impact
The Restaurant Rivals workshop aims to help young people develop employable skills and prepare for life in the work environment.
How so?
Group work encourages communication, time management, task management, innovation and confidence.
The Pitch or Presentations
help build public speaking confidence, presentation skills and articulation in front of peers.
The cook off finale
is a great fun way to cement everything learnt by positive reinforcement. It hammers home the truth about healthy eating and its benefits.
"Absolutely fantastic!
The children and staff were totally engaged and learned so much!
We will definitely be in touch to book for other year groups for enrichment days!
You were brilliant and really brought across the message in an exciting and encouraging way to all our children. Thank you so much!"
Headteacher
St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School
The group work
In groups, all pupils will club together to design a restaurant that delivers healthy food, based on the NHS Eatwell guide.
They will need to have a signature dish, set pricing and get ready to sell their concept to our Chef.
The pitch
The Restaurant groups will take their concepts to the centre stage and sell their concept to the entire group.
They will be quizzed by our chef on the food, how healthy their signature dish is, how they set the budget, and why they should be chosen for the grand finale - the cook off!
The cook-off finale!
The top restaurants will go head to head with a selection of surprise ingredients to cook the best healthy balance meal they can, to prove they truly have the best restaurant team!
The winning Restaurant team will be chosen by tasters, VIP judges (Teachers) and our Chef.
Note: The ingredients have been planned to avoid any allergens.
How does it work with the
Skills Builder Universal Framework?
Our aim is to help all pupils Learn new skills, Develop new skills and Apply new skills.
1. Listening
Students must carefully follow instructions, safety rules and task briefings to succeed in this fast-paced, restaurant model scenario.
2. Speaking
Students practise clear communication, public speaking and active listening, while interacting with their teammates and facilitators.
3. Problem Solving
Realistic challenges require students to identify issues, suggest solutions and act quickly, building confidence in decision-making.
4. Creativity
The competitive and supportive environment encourages enthusiasm for creativity, and a willingness to take on new creative tasks in order to succeed.
5. Adapting
Students respond to challenges or other students ideas, developing flexibility and the ability to adjust to ideas quickly.
6. Planning
Teams work to strict deadlines, learning to prioritise tasks in order to progress to the next part of the challenge - The Cook Off!
7. Leadership
Students collaborate in defined restaurant roles, learning how teamwork and shared responsibility lead to collective success.
8. Teamwork
Each student must fulfil their assigned role and stay focused throughout the event, demonstrating reliability and dedication to their team.
The Fun Food Company is trusted by:
How it supports the
Gatsby Benchmarks?
The Restaurant Rivals is highly effective in meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks by providing meaningful employer encounters, real-world experiences, and clear links between curriculum learning and future careers.
Its structured roles, hands-on challenges help students develop essential employability skills while giving schools strong, reportable evidence across multiple benchmarks in a single, engaging event.
Benchmark 1
A stable careers programme
The Restaurant rivals is a structured workshop that can be integrated annually into your careers strategy.
Benchmark 2
Learning from Career & Labour Market Information
Students explore roles across hospitality, food production, business, marketing, finance, and customer service.
Benchmark 3
Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
Strong connections to Food Tech, PSHE, Business, STEM, and English.
Benchmark 4
Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
Strong connections to Food Tech, PSHE, Business, STEM, and English.
Benchmark 5
Encounters with Employers & Employees
Delivered by experienced facilitators with industry knowledge.
Benchmark 6
Experiences of Workplaces
Students replicate a restaurant environment, building practical and professional skills.
Benchmark 8
Personal Guidance
Opportunities for reflection, feedback, and confidence‑building.
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School Food Showdown
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School Food Showdown 7
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School Food Showdown 4
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Pricing
1 Workshop
only £599
90 Minute Workshop
Up to 100 Pupils
Fresh Ingredients
Everyone takes part!
2 Workshops
only £899
2 x 90 Minute Workshop
Up to 100 Pupils in each workshop
Fresh Ingredients
Everyone takes part!
3 Workshops
only £999
3 x 90 Minute Workshop
Up to 100 Pupils in each Workshop
Fresh Ingredients
Everyone takes part!
“We’ve just had Ben in for the workshop, and I wanted to say how absolutely brilliant it was. The children and staff loved it – it was interactive, engaging, fun, and educational. Honestly, it’s one of the best workshops we’ve ever had, so a massive thank you.
A special mention to Ben himself, he was fantastic with the children, so warm, approachable, and full of energy. He created such a positive and inclusive atmosphere that really brought the session to life.”
Alice
Principal, St Mary's Catholic Primary School