The HIT Chef Academy – launched by hospitality apprenticeship and training specialists HIT Training – will operate from regional centres across the UK and assist employers in setting up their own schools.
A syllabus designed to ‘challenge and stretch’ apprentice chefs will see students learn knife skills, stocks, cold presentation, patisserie, kitchen management, flavour profiles and team work.
Apprentices will also benefit from masterclasses, supplier visits and demonstrations from leading industry professionals, such as Paul Wayne Gregory, the expert chocolatier.
Paul Mannering, HIT Chef Academy principal, said: “Here in the UK we are leaders in innovative cooking and fine dining experiences – with the number of Michelin starred restaurants increasing each year – and it is an exciting time for the industry as it continues to grow.
“Apprenticeships have a vital role to play in training the next generation of chefs. By launching the HIT Chef Academy we hope to offer more chefs the opportunity to build a successful career in the hospitality industry and to invest in their training and development for the benefit of both the chefs and their employers.”
The first regional Academy - The Orange Kitchen at Becketts Farm, Birmingham – will launch in November.
HIT currently works with 1,600 cookery apprentices across the UK and works to raise awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships for both school leavers and those looking to advance their skills and career.