The scheme has been launched in partnership with training partner Babcock and will take the apprentices through a comprehensive training plan to develop them and equip them with leading management qualifications and give them the opportunity to undertake a six-year programme.
Jacob Jones, apprentice at the chef’s academy, Monkton Combe school, said: “When I started the scheme my cookery skills were just the bare minimum and now I can cook a meal for 600 students here at Monkton. I am thoroughly enjoying it and learning so much each day. Everyone I work with takes so much interest in how I am getting on which is really nice and I am determined to carry on to do the six year scheme to become the best I can be.”
Lorraine Palmer said: “We always feel that it is crucial to put people first within our company and develop both new and existing employees as we know there are fantastic training opportunities for those wishing to expand their horizons. These apprentices really are the managers of the future and we hope by inspiring them and giving them the skills they need to succeed there really will be no limit to what they can achieve. Their success will also continue to ensure that we create a fantastic experience for our customers.”
The Chef’s Academy is a managed development programme aimed at building the next generation of Palmer & Howells Chef Managers. A clearly defined development structure that will focus on developing core skills, required behaviours and the necessary capabilities to carry out future roles is in place. The Academy says it will follow a blended approach incorporating training, coaching, secondment and offsite learning – to create an overarching rounded experience as well as the required level to progress to the advanced programme.