Budding Cumbrian gastronomes are offered the chance to take their first steps on a culinary career with The Inn Collection Group this summer, as three of the company’s Lake District pubs with rooms open applications for places on the second Chef Academy.
Aiming to address a skills shortage in the hospitality industry, Chef Academy is a £9000 investment into apprenticeships by the award-winning hospitality company and has just seen its first nine learners graduate as level 2 Commis Chefs or level 3 Chef de Partie.
Working with Michelin-trained chef Matthew Benson-Smith and his Benson-Smith Training Academy, the 2023 cohort has learnt everything from creating sumptuous stocks and sauces and knife skills to expert preparation of meat, game & vegetables.
No prior chef experience is required by Chef Academy applicants, with the successful candidates being drawn from those who display the raw ingredients of enthusiasm, passion creativity and a willingness to learn.
A 12-month course of study, the fully-funded opportunities available in the Lake District will be hosted at The Ambleside Inn, The Angel Inn and The Wateredge Inn, with enrichment opportunities taking place across northern England.
Speaking as applications open, The Inn Collection Group’s learning and development manager Ashleigh Fenwick said: “The Inn Collection Group’s Chef Academy will be market-leading in its approach to training and developing the next generation of Chefs.
“An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to learn skills while you earn and while you are in the workplace and to gain industry experience.
“We’re looking for really passionate people who have the desire to learn new skills and come and work for an exciting growing business.
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Chef Benson-Smith Academy and can’t wait to meet our next cohort of budding chefs!’
Explaining the decision to partner with The Inn Collection Group, Matthew Benson-Smith said: “We like to work with businesses that are passionate about training young people and forming their skills for the future and The Inn Collection Group have a real focus for that.
“The focus will be on learning skills from the very basics through to more complex things. We are all passionate about getting as much into the course as possible so that the students learn what they need to learn.”
Tom Adlam, head of food at The Inn Collection Group said, “What we are keen to do is to bring that next wave of people into our business and inspire them within the company and the industry.
“It is well documented that hospitality is having a difficult moment in its history in attracting people to the industry and our Chef Academy will help us to attract brand new talent to our company.”
To apply for a position on the 2024/25 Chef Academy programme, email Talent@inncollectiongroup.com
