Junior Chefs' Academy comes to Northern Ireland

Young people are being encouraged to consider a career as a chef with the launch of the first Junior Chefs' Academy training course where 12 to 16 year olds learn about cooking in a fun environment.

It is an award winning, industry-led initiative already established in England by leading 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. Compass Group employs 700 people in Northern Ireland and their chefs will be participating on the courses at each of the local colleges.

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 at Deanes in Belfast, attended by Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey, industry and education representatives and Junior Chefs, 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. It's a positive example of industry, education and government working together to ensure we have the Michael Deanes and Heston Blumenthals of tomorrow."

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."

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. 

The Junior Chefs' Academy  programme has been developed by Compass Group and brought to Northern Ireland by People 1st with support from the Department for Employment and Learning. Key sponsors include Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Safefood, City and Guilds and the Institute of Hospitality.

Words: Maria Bracken

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