Junior Chefs Tiarnan Brady and Hannah Clark watched by (from left) Roisin McKee (People 1st) Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning, chef Michael Deane and Margaret Campbell from Compass Group.
It is an award winning, industry-led initiative already established in England by contract caterers Compass Group.
Since its introduction by Compass in 2003, 2,750 Junior Chefs have graduated through the programme and 68% progressed on to take further training in hospitality and catering.
The programme aims to help bridge skills gaps identified in the hospitality industry locally. Research with local employers by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism (HLTT) has identified a lack of technically skilled chefs as a barrier to filling vacancies and effective performance.
Indeed around 1 in 20 HLTT employers (6%) in Northern Ireland are having difficulty recruiting chefs or cooks.
The Junior Chefs' Academy course, supported in Northern Ireland by the Department of Employment and Learning, is a positive response by industry and education to address these issues and encourage young people into professional training.
Brian Wisdom, Chief Executive of People 1st speaking at the launch welcomed the support for the programme which is already underway: "This is a good news story for future jobs in Northern Ireland as the hospitality industry has identified its need for professionally trained chefs and there are excellent opportunities for young people in this sector. Already 100 students are enrolled here on the first Junior Chefs' Academy and the colleges have reported great interest with many courses oversubscribed."
Robin Mills, HR Director, Compass Group UK & Ireland said: "We are absolutely delighted that our Junior Chefs' Academy Programme is being extended to Northern Ireland – Success for us is that Junior Chefs' Academy enables young people to experience and maintain an interest in food and cooking, giving them a taste of the opportunities open to them in the future."
Welcoming guests to the launch at his Howard Street restaurant Michelin starred chef Michael Deane and Junior Chefs' Academy supporter said: "The Junior Chefs' Academy is a terrific opportunity for young people to get first hand experience of being a chef and to consider it as a career. It's vital to business performance that we have highly skilled, professionally trained and clearly motivated chefs to enable us to deliver the standards of catering and hospitality required to excite tourists and local customers alike."
All six regional colleges are each running a course and have invited leading local chefs to take classes and share their enthusiasm and skills with the Junior Chefs.
While creating fresh dishes each week the Junior Chefs learn basic cookery and nutrition, hygiene, health and safety, develop team working and communication skills and gain an appreciation of real food and healthy eating.
Graduation events will take place at each college when Junior Chefs cook for friends and family and receive their certificates.
