The exciting ‘Design a Jamie Oliver Restaurant’ initiative – a legacy to COYO’s 2016 Design Jamie’s challenge – is set to inspire young people by offering them a hands-on experience in the built environment sector, combining food, creativity and well-being through the lens of real-world professionals.

This innovative programme is the latest in COYO’s suite of Design Engineer Construct! (DEC) Awards and will be available free to schools. The programme offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the design, engineering and construction of sustainable spaces while reflecting on Jamie Oliver’s own principles of balanced, health-conscious living.

Led by COYO founder and president of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), Alison Watson MBE, the programme is supported by leading professional bodies and builds on the success of the original challenge, opening the door to a range of built and natural environment careers.

Design a Jamie Oliver Restaurant challenges students to design a four-course menu for Jamie Oliver’s restaurants. From there, students will take the next step in their project by designing a restaurant space that reflects Jamie’s commitment to well-being, sustainability and community-focused spaces.

By connecting food with architecture and engineering, the award showcases how the built environment directly influences health and wellbeing. The programme provides students with a deeper understanding of how the spaces we design can positively affect both the people who use them and the environment they inhabit. It offers a hands-on, creative pathway for students to explore careers in design, engineering and construction.

As someone who has inspired the careers of many young people, Jamie Oliver is an advocate for lifelong learning starting in schools. Commenting on the exciting new collaboration, he said: “It’s brilliant to be teaming up with Class Of Your Own once more for this inspirational programme. The initiative gives kids an insight into some of the different sectors of the design industry in a really fun, accessible, creative way. The winners of the 2016 Design Jamie’s challenge have gone on to such successful careers, which just goes to show what you can achieve with the right support. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our new round of students!”

Design a Jamie Oliver Restaurant draws on the success of COYO’s 2016 design challenge, which saw Clacton Coastal Academy students John Haylett and Sam Boone take top honours. Their ideas for the conversion of one of the Essex coastline’s Martello Towers not only impressed a judging panel of industry experts, but also laid the foundation for their successful careers in the built environment sector.

John is now a building surveyor with AtkinsRéalis, while Sam is a building services engineer at Ingleton Wood. Both took the degree apprenticeship route, achieving first class with honours in their respective subjects and demonstrating how practical, real-world projects in school can ignite a passion that leads to a fulfilling professional career.

    Guests arrive at Jamie Oliver Catherine St.
    L-R: Sam Boone, Richard Wadley, Chris Williamson, Stephanie Neill, Aled Williams, Mark Whittaker, Antony Oliver, Chris Chivers, Lindsey Platt, Alison Watson, Ann Wanner, John Haylett, Tony Ryan
    Back row L-R: Anthony Oliver, Amanda Clack, Susie Rumbold, Alison Watson, David Lakin, Ann Vanner, John Haylett. Front Row L-R: Lindsey Platt, Aled Williams, Mark Whittaker, Stephanie Neill, Sam Boone, Laura Mansel-Thomas, Richard Wadley, Tony Ryan, Chris Chivers, Gary Mees, Eddie Weir
    L-R: Eddie Weir, Sam Boone, Susie Rumbold, Alison Watson, John Haylett, Amanda Clack, Stephanie Neil
    “Design Jamie’s” 2016 winning entry: Essex coast Martello Tower – John Haylett, Sam Boone – Clacton Coastal Academy
    2024 Entry poster featuring Jamie Oliver