Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver is an exceptional role model who has used his skills and public profile to help those less fortunate than himself. By contributing significant amounts of time, effort and money for no financial reward, Jamie set up the charity the Fifteen Foundation (formerly 'Cheeky Chops') in 2001. It provides opportunities for disadvantaged young people to learn about the hospitality and catering industry through training and practical experience. Having spent 6 months training 15 young people to be chefs, Jamie opened the restaurant Fifteen, which has been such a success that it is being replicated around the world. Jamie has also recently begun a campaign to improve the quality of school dinners.

Since being a teenager, Jamie has dreamt of starting a restaurant to train disadvantaged young people to be chefs. As soon as was possible, he launched the initiative, staking his house against a £1.3 million bank loan for the project.

Jamie interviewed 1,500 applicants for the 15 positions available on the project, and spent the next 6 months giving the chosen few a crash course as chefs. Their progress was filmed for what became a successful TV series. By the end of the series there were 10 students who went on to work in the restaurant. Fifteen is now open and fully booked for lunch and dinner every day. It was awarded 'New Restaurant of the Year' by Tatler magazine and several of its chefs have since gone on to work in top restaurants around the country. A new intake of chefs is trained each year, with all profits going to the Fifteen Foundation.

From the outset Jamie's hope has been to be able to replicate Fifteen. In 2004, Fifteen Amsterdam opened with 20 students and there is one in the pipeline in Cornwall and Melbourne. The plan is to open many more on the same charitable model to help many more disadvantaged young people.

Jamie has developed a social enterprise, creating opportunities for young people, which not only equips them with marketable skills but is also popular and highly successful. So far, all the Fifteen graduates still work in the food and hospitality industry. Jamie Oliver's name brings constant publicity to Fifteen which ensures that it remains popular and profitable. Jamie is now working to promote the quality of school food, having made an impressive TV series on the subject that has gained public support and influenced government policy.

"The Fifteen Foundation is driving forward our dream of building Fifteen into a global social enterprise brand inspiring young people all over the world. I've committed myself to this for the next 25 yrs. It's a really interesting and amazing project. It's changed my life as well as my students."

Jamie Oliver

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