Professional Cookery Diploma wins training accolade

People 1st and City & Guilds recently collected their award at a gala dinner organised on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) by UK Skills. Based on extensive research with hospitality employers, the course is much more practical providing chefs with a solid foundation of cooking techniques. It offers clear progression by introducing different types of cuisine, ingredients, food hygiene as well as an insight into the intense pressures of working in a professional kitchen. After two years of developing and piloting the Diplomas in Professional Cookery qualification, City & Guilds has begun to roll it out through its college network. Over 50 institutions are currently offering the qualification, collectively teaching around 3000 students per year. Feedback from centres and employers has been positive, with reports that students are finding the course both rewarding and challenging. Phil Raynsford, strategic development director at People 1st, said: "This award recognises the effort and commitment that has gone into not only shaping the education system to meet employer needs, but also persuading government to change its funding policy and give more money to the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector." Congratulating all winners at the National Training Awards ceremony, tv presenter, Faye Barker said: "This year's recipients have set the benchmark high. Each and every one of them has proven that in today's current climate, high quality training is an integral part of both personal and business development." The Professional Cookery Diploma was developed in response to a pressing need for 'work-ready' entrants who could hit the ground running in their first catering jobs and not require remedial training.