Foodservice company Compass is launching a professional apprenticeship programme for 16-18 year olds called The Chef’s Academy.
The initiative will offer a minimum of 40 places this year, with the potential to expand in the future. The aim is to attract unemployed school leavers who want to develop their culinary skills and pursue a career in hospitality.
The two-year programme gives apprentices the chance to earn while they learn and will be delivered from three hubs - Manchester, Birmingham and London. It will blend professional cookery workshops with in-business mentoring and assessment. It has been designed to support not only the practical competencies associated with professional cookery, but also to help prepare apprentices with life and business skills required for further employment and progression.
Andrew Richards, HR director, Compass Group UK & Ireland said: “People are at the heart of Compass and this initiative will enable us to continue to attract people with a real passion for food and who strive for a career in this industry.
“We understand that in the current climate the jobs market is really tough for young people and we wanted to create a scheme that would help school leavers get on the career ladder while also enabling them to learn while they earn. We fully support the government’s drive to tackle unemployment through apprenticeships and I believe The Chefs’ Academy is a fantastic example of an apprenticeship scheme that provides great opportunities for young people.”
After 24 months of working across a broad portfolio of Compass locations, including some of the nation’s finest sporting, music and business venues, each successful apprentice will be offered a commis chef position within the organisation.
The career path for young apprentices will not stop here; following a further 12 months embedding and honing their new skills, they will be given additional options for further progression through a professional cookery programme at Level 3 stage or a diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership.
Applications for The Chefs’ Academy open on 24 August and close on 13 September.
