Leiths bucks the trend despite recession

The first term of the course had a capacity of 96 full time students. "Last year our numbers were down. 2008 was a period of change for Leiths," commented Camilla Schneideman, managing director of Leiths. After nearly 30 years in Kensington, the school moved to larger and better equipped premises near Chiswick. Schneideman took on the role of managing director in May 2008. She said: "It was a steep learning curve for me and news concerning the credit crunch was at its peak. Without doubt people were being cautious, waiting to see what the New Year would bring." A steady flow of bookings for the 2009 Leiths Diploma in Food and Wine has continued throughout the year. "As the start date for the course approached, we were still receiving a high volume of enquires. We know that for many enrolling on the diploma is a life changing decision. "Therefore we continued to talk prospective students through the curriculum, with a view to enrolling on our 2010 Diploma. Some more experienced cooks will join us for a Two Term Diploma starting in January, we are very pleased to say that we have also filled all the places for this course. It will be satisfying to see the new building running at full capacity" added Camilla. Some 63% of students currently on the beginner's certificate course (the first part of the Diploma) have taken a career change. They have come from a variety of backgrounds, including banking, advertising, estate agency, civil engineering, journalism, IT, construction and the film industry. The remaining 37% have just left school or university. 62% are enrolled on the full Diploma.