ETC helping brew skills and jobs in the Northern Rivers

Enterprise & Training Company (ETC) is pleased to support the Northern Rivers Community Gateway with their purchase of a new custom built mobile coffee cart which is providing training and employment opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged members of the community.

ETC CEO Jenny Barnett said this was no ordinary coffee enterprise.

“The Northern Rivers Community Gateway’s Cart Café really is all about coffee with a conscience,” Mrs Barnett said.

“It’s providing skills development and real job opportunities for the unemployed and for people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.

“We encourage local businesses to get on board with this great initiative by providing space at their premises or at events for the Cart Café to operate.”

Cart Supervisor Michelle Renshaw said Cart Café supported trainees in gaining their Retail qualifications in conjunction with ETC, while providing them with on-the-job Barista training.

“NRCG also support trainees in gaining their Food Safety Certificate and formal Barista Coffee Preparation training,” Ms Renshaw said.

“We are really grateful to ETC for supporting us and helping us purchase our second mobile coffee cart.”

“Our plan is to use our carts as a training base at 76 Carrington Street and to operate at various events, sporting events, festivals and markets from Grafton to Tweed giving our trainees practical and real work experiences.”

Cart Café’s Barista David Barnes said he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with Cart Café.

“I was unemployed myself prior to getting this job,” he said.

“Now I get a chance to share my experience and use my skills to give back to the community and help other unemployed people.”

Jenny Barnett recently visited the Northern Rivers Community Gateway and saw the Cart Café in-action.

“Being a not-for-profit, jobactive provider and Registered Training Organisation, ETC is proud to be supporting the Cart Café. This aligns perfectly with our own goals of helping to reduce disadvantage and providing employment and training opportunities in the local region,” Ms Barnett said.

For further information about Cart Café contact Michelle Renshaw on 0417 580 956. To learn about Training opportunities visit our ETC Training Page.