The Hilton in the Community Foundation, the charitable trust set up by Hilton International, has opened a training kitchen at St. Augustine's Secondary School in Kilburn, North London.

The foundation invested more than £125,000 in the kitchen, which aims to encourage careers in the hospitality industry by developing the understanding of cookery among 11- to 16-year-old pupils. It will also be used by Westminster Kingsway College.

Hilton International has worked closely with the school and education authority in the development of the kitchen and will continue to provide support in the form of guest lectures and hotel visits.

'This project reinforces our commitment to education and we may roll it out to other areas,' said chairman of the Hilton in the Community Foundation. 'We are giving these young people the opportunity to learn in a purpose built facility and are supporting this with ongoing training.'

The foundation was established last year to target the areas of young people and education, hospitality ad leisure causes and disaster relief.