The TUCO Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Foundation's grant route is for employers who want to subsidise training for their staff, so a small charity should approach it on that basis and not as a general project funder.
- It is stated to work across the world and accepts applications on a rolling basis.
- Its annual report gave no readable grants total and no typical grant size is stated, so avoid assuming an amount and ask first about what it would consider.
- The only contact route given is an email address for course enquiries, and nothing is said about how competitive or relationship-led its grants are.
Overview
The TUCO Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1206611).
The TUCO Foundation was established on the 18th January as a wholly controlled subsidiary of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation. It exists to advance education in such ways as its trustees think fit, in particular the promotion and provision of training in catering and hospitality. Its programmes are subsidised training and courses for staff across multiple sectors and departments, charitable donations to global causes, and networking opportunities. It also offers grants to employers to subsidise their staff's training.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Foundation provides subsidised training for public-sector staff, including those outside catering departments, and offers grants to employers to subsidise staff training. Its Academy training spans hospitality roles and includes study tours, allergen and food-safety training. It also gives donations to charities around the world when trustees see the need, and donates surplus food from TUCO events to local shelters. Alongside these activities, it offers discounted networking opportunities and access to events, conferences and competitions. Its training serves people from entry-level roles to senior management.
Themes
- Staff training
Geographic Focus
Across the world.
How to apply
Employers seeking subsidised staff training can enquire about a course by emailing sarah@tucofoundation.org.
Who can apply:
- The Foundation offers grants for employers to allow subsidised training for their staff.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- International
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The TUCO Foundation.
2 years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2025 | £1,575,120 | £848,185 | — | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
| year to 31 March 2026 | £733,700 | £777,788 | — | Accounts for year to 31 March 2026 |
— No grants figure for those years.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- tucofoundation.org/academy/about-the-academy · read on 30 October 2026
- tucofoundation.org/about-tuco-foundation · read on 30 October 2026
- tucofoundation.org · read on 30 October 2026
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The TUCO Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Applying to The TUCO Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required