Chefs of the future

A new QHotels' Chef Academy initiative has recently launched to entice new talent into the kitchens of the collection's 21 hotels, as well as hone the skills of the groups existing and up-and-coming talent.

The apprenticeship, which is aimed at 16 to 24 year olds, has been set up in association with VT Training, the UK's largest work-based training provider and is being sponsored by specialist hospitality recruitment consultancy Platinum Recruitment.

Gareth Griffiths-Horton, VT Training's national account manager, said this programme goes above regular training: "A variety of tailored modules have been specifically designed to give the apprentice chefs a broader knowledge of the industry, as well as fire their imaginations and inspire them in their chosen career."

In addition to professional onsite training at various QHotels properties, the apprentices will take part in a number of professional workshops, which will allow them to work alongside industry suppliers and explore raw materials at sites including Smithfield Meat Market and Spitalfields Market for Fruit & Vegetables.

"Over the last year QHotels has conducted some extensive recruitment and retention research, which highlighted a skills shortage within the catering sector," commented Sarah Hoskin, group training manager at QHotels.  "As a result we set about thinking of a way in which we could ensure that QHotels is both growing and retaining its own chefs of the future, and as a result this academy has been born."

The Chef Academy will run over the next 14 months, and will see its first ten apprentices graduate in March 2010.

Words: Maria Bracken

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