The Grande Cuisine Academy has the support of The Craft Guild of Chefs, PACE, Hospitality Action, Choose Hospitality and The Burnt Chef Project. The online learning platform has a host of resources to help ‘inspire’ young chefs whether they attend a catering college or if they work.
As well as tutorial videos on a wide range of culinary skills the Grand Cuisine Academy features guidance on topics such as wellness and mental health, in addition to careers advice from chefs Paul Ainsworth, Neil Haydock and Simon Attridge. Steve Munkley, chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards is the Grande Cuisine Academy’s brand ambassador.
Steve Hobbs, managing director of Grande Cuisine, said: “The Grande Cuisine Academy is about giving something back to the hospitality industry at a time when we need to be doing as much as possible to attract young people into it, and then supporting them on their journey.
“At the heart of the project is a suite of videos, created in collaboration with chef lecturers from MK College, on everything from knife skills to vegetable cuts, creating mother sauces to filleting a variety of fish. All of these videos, along with practical hints, tips and advice from leading chefs.”
All resources on the website can be accessed for free via a laptop, tablet or mobile device. Anybody who signs up with an email address will receive additional benefits including regular updates on Grande Cuisine Academy activities, details of exclusive events, advance notice of when new content is posted, and discounts on products from partners.
In addition, any students or apprentices who sign up will automatically receive one year’s free membership to the Craft Guild of Chefs. Andrew Green, chief executive of the Craft Guild of Chefs, added: “The Craft Guild of Chefs has a long tradition of nurturing and supporting young people entering the hospitality industry and so we are fully supportive of the Grande Cuisine Academy.”