Welsh team captain backs chef training programme

Wayne Roberts in action

Wayne Roberts, executive chef at Portmeirion Hotel, Wales, is backing a training programme that is designed to benchmark skills in the catering and hospitality industry in Wales.

Roberts is an examiner and mentor of the Applied Ability Award (AAA) programme, which aims to drive up standards in the hospitality and catering industry in Wales by improving the skills of existing and aspiring chefs and cooks.

The programme in Wales is fully funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and delivered by award-winning training provider Cambrian Training Company in partnership with Tourism Training for Wales.

Chefs are mentored by experienced chefs and have access to an online virtual chef channel to support the learning in preparation for the exams. The exams are designed and delivered by chefs for chefs, with the UK chefs bodies all working together via the AAA National Committee as governing body.

Mr Roberts is mentoring six chefs at Portmeirion Hotel, two of which have achieved the AAA Foundation Chef Certificate and are progressing to the Chef award. Sion Wellings and Martin Williams passed the AAA examination held at Coleg Powys, Newtown last month.

He commented: "I think the AAA programme is fundamental to raising standards within the catering and hospitality industry in Wales. It takes me back to when I was doing my apprenticeship and I would certainly recommend it to other establishments."

Ruth Morris, AAA co-ordinator in Wales, revealed that 211 chefs and 65 mentors had now been registered on the AAA programme. "By achieving the awards they are benchmarking their skills and representing the establishments where they work. The AAA programme can only improve food preparation and cooking within Wales and give our talented chefs the credit that they deserve."

Words: Maria Bracken

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