Peebles Becomes a Hub for Pizza Making and Youth Skill Development

The tranquil main street of Peebles is geographically distant from Naples’ vibrant backstreets. Nevertheless, a culinary staple of the Italian city is now creating opportunities for young individuals in this town in southern Scotland. A vacant structure on the High Street has undergone transformation into both a pizzeria and a training academy. Food Punks, an entity operating under Tweeddale Youth Action (TYA), functions as a chef-guided catering organization dedicated to imparting culinary and catering proficiencies. This organization has operated for over ten years, providing outside catering and organizing pop-up events; however, the recently established pizzeria offers a valuable and permanent operational hub. Dave Hodson, a former chef and the TYA locality manager, possesses firsthand knowledge of the transformative potential within the catering profession. He recounted, “I had turbulent teenage years, you know, I went to several high schools and left school with no qualifications.” He further stated, “I was not always making good decisions. I was running with a crowd I probably shouldn’t have been running with.” “I think the catering industry saved my life really,” he commented. He explained, “When I was 15, I got a job working washing up at a local Italian restaurant and things just sort of moved from there.” He articulated that the endeavor encompassed more than simply acquiring pizza-making skills, acknowledging that the craft itself is an art form. He clarified, “It’s around food and it’s around cookery skills, but it’s not necessarily geared towards spitting out chefs.” “We’ve seen young people coming through who’ve built on their own confidence and they’ve built on their interpersonal skills,” he added. He concluded, “We’ve given some focus and a bit of purpose.” He noted that involvement as part of a kitchen crew and engagement with the project could be “really quite powerful” for the employees, who are aged between 16 and 25. Alex Church, a 22-year-old musician hailing from Innerleithen, is among the individuals involved. He had prior experience working with Food Punks and has recently relocated back to the area from Edinburgh. He commented, “I’m a musician and you don’t necessarily make a lot of money.” “I missed the work, I missed the team, I love hospitality and making pizzas,” he conveyed. He added, “It was kind of fate to be able to come back here and work with people I know, people I like and do something new and exciting.” He observed that the participating young individuals appreciated their involvement, and the establishment of a new permanent location significantly impacted the project. He stated, “They want to get involved and get their hands dirty and it’s the perfect way to do so.” “So having this place – it’s just taking that to another level,” he concluded. Kieran Schaedler, 17 years old and a resident of Peebles, joined the initiative after concluding his schooling in January. He is now engaged in pizza production and food preparation activities. “It is good, I quite enjoy it,” he remarked, further indicating that he might consider it as a potential career path. “It could be, it is really just see what happens in the next coming months,” he added. When asked about the quality of his pizza, he replied, “I like to say so – I have only heard good things.” Rachel Allan, aged 16 and from Cardrona, similarly became involved after completing her schooling. She stated, “I am the baker, I make all the cakes and stuff.” “It is really good,” she added. “I have always really liked being in the kitchen so it is definitely a career that I would want to be in,” she affirmed. She concluded, “Everyone likes pizza and there are cakes and salads – it is just a good combo to have here.” The project has received backing from numerous entities, including South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Borders Council, the National Lottery, and the Scottish government. The quality of the pizza is such that, when consumed, it could almost transport one to the essence of southern Italy.