The apprentice academy was created in February 2020 and aims to discover, foster and launch the next generation of chefs from the greater London area into rewarding careers in the kitchen.
A welcome day was held in July, at which the apprentices and their parents met executive chefs and mentors from Sodexo Live! At the event they discussed their favourite foods, their reasons for becoming chefs and they also shared their future career goals.
The successful six apprentices attended an induction day at the St Luke's Community Centre, South Islington in September. They spent time with Sodexo Live! executive chefs Emeline Gibert and Alessandro Soro, as well as the chef training team from HIT Training.
Ben Dutson, food innovation director, Sodexo Live! said: "The Sodexo Live! Academy is a great reminder of what it's like to enter this amazing industry at the start of your career and think how unattainable things like fine dining and cooking for tens of thousands of people, including senior royals, at iconic events like Royal Ascot seem in those early days.
“We want to spread the word about the fantastic experiences and opportunities available at Sodexo Live!, and we're hoping that this course will inspire the apprentices to pursue rewarding careers in the kitchen.”
The six apprentices have the chance to achieve either a Commis Chef Level 2 or Level 3 Chef de Partie qualification. The apprentices include:
- Isaac Brown, aged 18
- George Hill, aged 17
- Lucy Gilbert, aged 16
- TJ Moore, aged 16
- Miracle Umunna, aged16
- Dreaquann Hall, aged 16
Clare Johnson, early careers lead at Sodexo UK and Ireland, added: "It makes me incredibly proud to see the impact this course has already made on the apprentices. I've been on this journey with them from the beginning, from the day they received their GCSEs to the day of their induction, and I can't believe how much they’ve already accomplished. I'm excited to see what they achieve over the coming year and beyond.”